However the Lions ended the half with 14 players after prop Andrew Sheridan was yellow-carded for punching.

Although the New Zealand Maori dominated the opening period, they only seriously threatened the Lions line on one occasion leaving Hill and Jones to exchange penalties for the only scores of the half.

Lions: J Lewsey; T Shanklin, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, S Williams; S Jones, M Dawson; A Sheridan, S Thompson, J White; S Shaw, P O'Connell; R Hill, M Williams, S Taylor, M Corry.

New Zealand Maori: L MacDonald; R Gear, R Tipoki, L McAlister, C Ralph; D Hill, P Weepu; D Manu, C Flynn, C Hayman, R Filipo, S Hohneck, J Gibbes (capt), M Holah, A MacDonald.

Referee - Steve Walsh.