Lions trail by point at break
Taranaki 7 British & Irish Lions 6
Taranaki carried a lead into the interval after scoring the only try of a hard-fought first half in New Plymouth.
The Lions struggled to create any momentum and looked most dangerous on the counter-attack with Charlie Hodgson and Chris Cusiter particularly effective.
But it was Cusiter’s poor pass that led to Taranaki, after a period of intense pressure, taking a 7-3 lead through Chris Masoe after 29 minutes.
Hodgson landed his second penalty five minutes later but the Lions had struggled to impose themselves on the New Zealanders.
Hodgson earned Lions early territorial advantage with a pinpoint kick for touch down the right line, but solid Taranaki defence kept them at bay.
The Lions opening scrum was scrappy and they only just managed to avoid losing it against the head.
Michael Owen stole clear round the fringes of the set-piece and the number eight was involved again out wide, but the move halted when Greenwood slipped a forward pass outside to Ollie Smith.
Taranaki were showing more chemistry through the backs and they pressed forward for the first time, stretching the Lions to work the overlap as Moody slipped off a tackle on scrum-half Craig Fevre.
But Corry helped force a turnover and Smith, showing the fearless adventure of a 22-year-old on his first Lions tour, launched a counter-attack by chipping forward from inside his own 22.
Hickie hacked but was beaten to the ball by Taranaki winger Chris Woods but the Lions almost worked an opening when Hodgson, enjoying an excellent start with the boot, picked out Horgan with a perfect cross-kick.
The Irish winger found compatriot Murphy on the inside but touch judge Steve Walsh ruled out the try for a clear forward pass.
The Lions had expected a physical confrontation and were clearly determined to give as good as they were getting.
Grewcock, no stranger to trouble, particularly on tours of New Zealand, was involved in two separate incidents before trading punches with Taranaki skipper Tito.
Owen’s pass then sent Hodgson clear down the left wing and Taranaki, stretched at the back, were penalised for slowing the ball. Hodgson slotted the Lions ahead after 19 minutes.`
Hickie sparked an 80-metre break from inside his own 22 as the Lions showed quick hands and an eye for adventure which was only halted when Titterrell knocked on in the tackle.
Titterrell’s lineout throwing became wayward. He was penalised for successive skewed throws and Taranaki took advantage to impose consistent pressure on the Lions defence.
Horgan and Hodgson directed a last-ditch stand on their own line to keep the hosts at bay. But when it seemed the Lions had relieved the pressure with a turnover, Cusiter fired a woeful pass behind his own goalline to concede a five-metre scrum and it proved costly.
Masoe leapt over the ruck to fall on a loose ball and he then stretched forward to touch down under the posts. Half an hour into a real scrap and Taranaki, who beat the Lions 5-0 in their first meeting in 1908, had taken the lead.
Hodgson then skipped through two challenges and when Cusiter took a quick tap penalty, Scott Breman straight-armed him and could well have been sin-binned.
He escaped because the referee ruled Cusiter had not taken the tap from the mark, but it was a cynical challenge nonetheless and Hodgson landed the penalty.
Smith then sparked the final Lions burst before half-time and when Horgan chipped through, Fevre conceded a five-metre scrum.
But the Lions pack, which had struggled all half, could not get a shove on and Taranaki headed into the interval ahead.
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