Southland stay in touch in first half

Gavin Henson breaks the defence to score the Lions' opening try against Southland tonight. Picture / Fotopress

HALFTIME: Southland 3 Lions 10 

A more creative Lions side stamped their authority on Southland early in Invercargill tonight but failed to open a sizeable gap. 

An almost third-string Lions side passed the ball around the backline and capitalised with a try from Gavin Henson after 13 minutes, the score coming at the end of a number of phases.  

First five-eighth Ronan O'Gara's goal kicking was better than it has been for much of the tour so far. He scored an early penalty and converted Henson's try to give the Lions a 10-0 lead.  

Richard Apanui kept the home side in sight with a penalty, his second attempt of the night, to bring the score back to 10-3. 

Southland were, however, causing the Lions very few problems and after 35 minutes had had just 29 per cent of the territory. 

O'Gara had another chance to kick from in front of the posts after half an hour but showed the Lions' attacking approach by kicking for the corner. 

Watisoni Lotawa made a burst late in the half, almost Southland's first meaningful attack of the game.  

A missed penalty on the stroke of halftime, had it been converted, would have given them greater hope for the second period.