Lions Level At The Break

It took 28 minutes for the first try of what had been a pulsating if low scoring encounter, Ben Hornby taking a sublime interception, just metres from his own line, and feeding Inglis who finished superbly, Lockyer converting.

However Sean Long turned creator with four minutes left till the break, sending out a dummy which foxed both Lockyer and Luke O’Donnell before setting up the superbly positioned Wellens.

Long added the two points to draw level and bring the first half scoring to a close, although some sterling defence was required in the closing seconds to prevent the Kangaroos from taking the initiative.

Willie Mason was lucky to stay on the field after two separate incidents within the first ten minutes of the game.

Mason first squared up to Stuart Fielden and knocked the Wigan forward to the floor with an obvious right hook before, even worse, launching himself into a disgusting late hit on Long leaving the Saints scrum-half nursing a cut over his eye.

The game now hangs in the balance, and the Lions will know they have to do what teams have often failed to do against the Aussies – play for 80 minutes – if they want to win.