Tourists keep lid on volcano

Joe Rokocoko gets his pass away in the tackle of Geordan Murphy at Eden Park last night. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Victory was slender, a fraught last-quarter scramble for the Lions but the men who dubbed themselves the Midweek Massive kept their unbeaten record last night with a 17-13 win against Auckland.

The result nobbled Auckland's three-in-a-row aspirations after the successes of their 1983 and 1993 predecessors against the Lions.

A late penalty for the visitors, their only second-half profit, allowed them to escape Auckland's surging second-half revival. On balance, the Lions were worthy of their win but they can thank Auckland's high error count in the opening spell for the victory.

Once Auckland worked out how to get their setpiece to function, their counter-attack, offloading skills and adventure tested the Lions defence to the limit.

It cracked just once when Isa Nacewa slid over after great support passes from loose forwards Jerome Kaino and Justin Collins.

With 20 minutes left, the Lions were battling to stay with the pace and pressure.

However, halfback Matt Dawson and replacement five-eighths Ronan O'Gara found some possession to pin Auckland back in their 22 where the visitors won a crucial penalty.

O'Gara goaled, Auckland lost their rhythm and the Lions held on. It had been a highly physical match, with plenty of commitment but the game lacked any great standard from teams stacked with internationals.

Much of the early momentum came for the Lions but they could not capitalise on a night where conditions were much better than the weather had suggested earlier in the day.

The Lions spooked the Auckland lineout where new hooker Semisi Telefoni had serious communication problems with his jumpers but the Lions looked tardy on attack.

Left wing Denis Hickie muffed one try when he could not control the seventh juggle of an O'Gara crosskick and Hickie missed another when his hack on from a spilled Auckland pass went into touch.

On the rare occasions Auckland got the ball they looked dangerous. Telefoni created one opportunity when he charged down a Hickie kick, and tackled Charlie Hodgson as he recovered the ball - injuring him in the process - and wrenched the ball clear.

Several times Auckland chose to run the ball from penalties on the edge of the Lions 22, and tighthead prop John Afoa looked to have scored from one raid before video ref Paddy O'Brien ruled otherwise.

Eventually Brent Ward was asked to shoot, successfully, for a penalty but at 6-3 and 34 minutes gone, the game had not warmed up sufficiently for the 47,500 crowd.

That was about to change. Martyn Williams was held back in the shadow of the posts and referee Steve Walsh must have thought about awarding a penalty try before the penalty was reversed when Ben Kay niggled Sam Tuitupou and had his right eye closed by a punch.

Soon after Mark Cueto, one of the under-used players on tour but who appeared very accomplished last night, showed his marvellous speed and step to beat four defenders before he was cut down on the line.

The chance was not lost however, the ball freed wide for Williams to bang over in the corner for a fine try.

Lions (M. Williams, try, R. O'Gara 3 pen, C. Hodgson pen)

Auckland (I. Nacewa, try; B. Ward 2 pen, con) Halftime: 14-3