Brumbies left frustrated
The Brumbies closed the gap on the top of the table after they secured a 24-13 victory over the Lions.
Last Updated: 05/03/10 1:53pm
The Brumbies closed the gap on the top of the table after they secured a 24-13 victory over the Lions - although they will have been left frustrated by the failure to pick up a bonus point.
The Brumbies threw everything at the Lions line late on but they just could not cross for that all-important fourth try.
Christian Lealiifano and Stephen Moore had both crossed to accompany an earlier penalty try, however errors in hands and judgement were to prove costly.
Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles said: "It was disappointing we could not get a bonus point, but in conditions like tonight, it was difficult.
"We took a little bit of control in the wet conditions."
The injury-hit Lions, who were forced into eight changes going into the match, struggled in the scrum - and saw tighthead prop Kevin Buys was sent to the bin in the 27th minute as the penalty count mounted.
And although Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar praised his side's efforts in difficult conditions, he admitted the penalty count had cost his side.
"The boys did well, I though we adapted well," he said.
"But they used their opportunities, and the penalties we had in the beginning of the game kept us out of it. It's something we need to work on."
The Lions had taken the lead with a Burton Francis penalty, however Matt Giteau responded for the hosts with a three-pointer of his own before he added the extras to a penalty try.
With the Lions already down to 14 men, referee Steve Walsh had little choice to award the score after JP Joubert came offside at another wheeling set-piece.
Leading 10-3 at the break, the Brumbies had the platform but they just couldn't build on it.
Francis cut the gap to four points with his second penalty and although Hoiles sent Lealiifano over for the second try - converted by Giteau - the Lions responded well as Hannes Franklin dived over.
A flowing move was finished off by Moore to put the Brumbies clear - and left them with more than 20 minutes to seal the bonus point.
The Lions defence, though, remained defiant to leave their hosts frustrated.
