 | MATCH SUMMARY Manawatu 6 (6) Pens: Hargreaves (2) Lions 109 (38) Tries: S Williams (5), Corry, Murphy, Robinson, Hodgson, Smith, Back, D'Arcy, O'Gara (2), Cueto (2), Cooper Cons: Hodgson (7), O'Gara (5) |
The Lions cruised to a confidence-boosting win in Palmerston North over the weakest opponents of their New Zealand tour. In a totally one-sided affair, the Lions racked up 17 tries against a side made up predominantly of part-timers.
Shane Williams ran in five tries to put pressure on Sir Clive Woodward to pick him for Saturday's second Test.
Manawatu managed to get themselves on the scoresheet with two first-half penalties from Jonathan Hargreaves.
It took Williams, whose five tries equalled the record in a game by a Lion, just two minutes to get his scoring under way as he darted into the left-hand corner, although there was more than a suggestion of a foot in touch by the Welsh flyer.
He added another 20 minutes later after a Chris Cusiter quick tap penalty and completed a hat-trick just before the interval with a tap penalty of his own.
As a rout became inevitable, Martin Corry, Geordan Murphy and Jason Robinson all found their way over the try line.
Robinson's score was remarkable simply for the fact it was his first since January and only his second of 2005.
At the interval, a raft of changes were made leading to speculation over players being rested for Saturday's Test. Donncha O'Callaghan and Cusiter were among those to come off.
But the replacements added further spur to the tourists, who registered three more tries within eight minutes.
First Charlie Hodgson glided in following a fine break from giant prop Andrew Sheridan and a good off-load by Smith.
 | I played the game I want to play and there's nothing much more I can do |
And then Smith's industry and invention were rewarded when he was sent on his way by Williams, who dived in for his fourth score moments later. Arguably the most farcical try of the night came with half-an-hour remaining as Simon Shaw collected the ball from the kick-off and ran almost half the pitch to send Neil Back through.
The English players stepped aside for the next two tries as Gordon D'Arcy and Ronan O'Gara both touched down.
The half became increasingly like a training session for the Lions as the scores continued coming - O'Gara darting over for a second, Mark Cueto adding two and Gareth Cooper scoring.
Appropriately, though, it was Williams who took the Lions past the 100-point mark with his fifth of the night.
Manawatu: Frank Bryant; Bevan Gray, Jason Campbell, Matt Oldridge, Johnny Leota; Graham Smith, Jonathan Hargreaves; Sam Moore, Nathan Kemp (capt), Keni Barrett, Tim Faleafaga, Paul Rodgers, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bradnock, Bryan Matenga.
Replacements: Simon Easton, Isaac Cook, Paula Maisiri, Chris Moke, David Palu, Nick Buckley, Ben Trew.
Lions: Geordan Murphy; Jason Robinson, Ollie Smith, Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Williams; Charlie Hodgson, Chris Cusiter; Andy Sheridan, Gordon Bulloch (capt), John Hayes, Simon Shaw, Donncha O'Callaghan, Martin Corry, Martyn Williams, Michael Owen.
Replacements: Andy Titterrell, Matt Stevens, Brent Cockbain, Neil Back, Gareth Cooper, Ronan O'Gara, Mark Cueto.
Referee: Lyndon Bray.