We deserved to lose, admits Woodward

The British and Irish Lions always viewed their game with the New Zealand Maori as the "fourth Test" of their tour of All Black country, and yesterday they were given an early indication of the intensity they can expect to encounter when the serious business begins with the First Test in Christchurch in a little under a fortnight's time.

The Maori beat them 19-13 - their first victory over a Lions side in eight attempts stretching back to 1930 - and had they won by a far greater margin, there would have been no cause for complaint.

Sir Clive Woodward, the tourists' head coach, was blunt in his assessment. "We were beaten fair and square," he admitted. "The better side won and if anything, the scoreline flattered us."

Trying to remain positive, he added: "It's a blip, a setback and nothing we can't handle."

His assistant, the Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan, was every bit as damning of the Lions' performance.

"We played between 75 and 80 per cent of the game in our own third of the pitch and when that happens, it's pretty difficult to win a rugby match," he said.

"We're not up to speed with what is happening at the breakdown and if we're going to play with slow ball here, we'll find ourselves in trouble."

A capacity crowd of 31,000 at the Waikato Stadium witnessed only two tries - the first by the Maori full-back Leon MacDonald, the second to the Lions' captain, the Irish centre Brian O'Driscoll, late in the game.

But the New Zealanders dominated most phases of play, and boasted the game's outstanding performers in their flankers, Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah, and their replacement outside-half, Carlos Spencer.

The Lions' one area of strength was the scrum, but they lost control in that department when the Sale prop Andrew Sheridan, who was making his debut inthe red shirt, was shown a yellow card for punching.

Controversially, he was then substituted.

"King Carlos" was playing his last game for the Maori, and possibly his last on New Zealand soil, having opted for a spell of English Premiership rugby with Northampton next season.

"This moment is right up there, one of the best of my career," he said. "Passion still plays a huge part in rugby and the Maori team thrives on it. In fact, it won us the game."

Matt Te Pou, the revered Maori coach, was also serving out his time after 10 years in the job. "This team has been my life for a long period," he said afterwards.

"I will take some special memories with me, and this is among the most special of all."

Only three games into the tour, it was the earliest defeat suffered by a Lions side since 1983, when Ciaran Fitzgerald's ill-fated vintage lost to Auckland in the second match of their New Zealand itinerary.

The current tourists now face Wellington on Wednesday.

Three celebrated English players - Jonny Wilkinson, Neil Back and Jason Robinson - and the captain of Wales, Gareth Thomas, are expected to play their first matches of the trip.

- INDEPENDENT