Lions bounce back with 10-32 win over Maori All Blacks

Maori All Blacks 10-32 British and Irish Lions, Rotorua International Stadium
Scorecard

Leigh Halfpenny kicked 20 points as British and Irish Lions earned a comfortable 10-32 win over Maori All Blacks in their tour game at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.

The Lions came into the game with two wins from four games before this and were desperate to build some confidence as they head into the Test series against All blacks.

Halfpenny kicked the proceedings with two penalties in the first 10 minutes to get Lions to a six point lead but Liam Messam had other plans as he strolled past the post in the 11th minute followed by a conversion from Damian McKenzie that took Maori All Blacks to a one point lead.

Both Halfpenny and McKenzie, exchanged a penalty each following which the Wales international kicked his fourth penalty as Lions went into half time with a slender 10-12 lead.

Halfpenny continued his good run and kicked his fifth penalty at the start of the second half. Maori All Blacks suffered a major setback as Tawera Kerr-Barlow was sin-binned in the 47th minute for a dangerous tackle on Halfpenny. This proved to be a game changer as they scored a penalty try from the scrum and was followed by a touchdown from Maro Itoje.

Halfpenny's sixth successful penalty kick came in the 69th minute as Warren Gatland's men completed a much needed 10-32 win over Maori All Blacks.

The Lions will now face Chiefs on Tuesday in Hamilton before locking horns with Steve Hansen's men on 24th June at Eden Park in Auckland.