DREADFUL LIONS HIT THE WAAL.

Byline: ALEX SPINK

LIONS TOUR

EMERGING BOKS....... 13

BRIT& IRISH LIONS.. 13

IAN McGEECHAN'S Lions suffered a hammer blow last night when they blew victory in the final play of their last midweek game.

Desperate for a morale booster ahead of Saturday's Second Test in Pretoria, the tourists were within seconds of achieving their aim.

But in filthy conditions at Newlands and with the end-ofmatch hooter having sounded, the Emerging Springboks ripped it away from them.

Replacement fly-half Willem de Waal threw a looping miss pass across the posts for the dreadlocked Danwel Demas to dive over in the corner. De Waal then booted the touchline conversion to steal a draw - and leave the Lions shellshocked.

"It is a big disappointment," admitted Ronan O'Gara. "We controlled the game but they caught us at the end."

Dick Muir, coach of the home side, praised his players for helping their senior side.

Muir said: "For the Lions it was really important to pick it up and our job was to disrupt them. Although it's only a draw it feels like a win."

This was a horrible fixture for the Lions long before driving rain and storm-force winds blew into Cape Town.

From the moment it appeared on the itinerary between Tests, it had danger written all over it.

That threat hung over McGeechan's side all evening as the weather prevented any flowing rugby. What little the Lions did manage came in one move in the first quarter after O'Gara had put them ahead with a penalty.

Typically it came from a mistake, when Martyn Williams intercepted an attempted clearance by Zane Kirchner.

The Wales star fed Riki Flutey, who took it deep into the home 22 before Shane Williams and Tim Payne set up Earls to score the try.

Leading 10-0 the Lions were in the box seat but they allowed Earl Rose to peg back three points in the final minute of the half.

And when Rose added a second after the restart, the Lions needed to hit back again.

Against Western Province on the same pitch 10 days ago James Hook was sent on to kick the winning penalty.

It looked like he had done the same again three minutes into stoppage time but the young Boks would not be denied.

CAPTION(S):

HURT PRIDE Lions stars shake hands with Emerging Springboks after the disappointing draw