The British and Irish Lions suffered the biggest scare of their South African tour on Saturday as they edged a persistent Western Province team 26-23 at Newlands.
The Lions had to call on a 76th-minute penalty from replacement fullback James Hook, summoned on to the field after 65 minutes to replace the injured Rob Kearney, to avoid a shock upset against a side that failed to shine in the Super 14.
The tourists seemed set for their fifth successive triumph when they led 18-9 with a minute to go in the first half, thanks to tries by wings Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye and two penalties and a conversion by flyhalf Stephen Jones.
But Western Province, without four Springboks not released by national coach Peter de Villiers, threatened to upset the form book as they kept chipping away at the Lions’ lead.
A try by fullback Joe Pietersen made the score 23-23 with 15 minutes to go. – Reuters