Waratahs edge Lions thriller
Tom Carter scored a dramatic late try to hand the New South Wales Waratahs a last-gasp 38-33 win over the Lions.
Last Updated: 17/05/09 12:03pm
Tom Carter scored a dramatic late try to hand the New South Wales Waratahs a last-gasp 38-33 win over the Lions, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the Super 14 semi-finals in the process.
The Lions had looked poised to snatch a memorable triumph themselves as they staged a second-half fightback to lead 33-31 with just four minutes remaining.
But with victory imperative to have any chance of prolonging their participation in the competition, the Waratahs responded and Carter obliged with the decisive try.
Now third in the table, the Australians will have to wait until the completion of the round-robin stages on Saturday to discover their fate.
They certainly started in a hurry and scored two tries in the opening ten minutes as first full-back Lachie Turner touched down, then lock forward Dean Mumm after a fine supporting run with Daniel Halangahu kicking both conversions.
The Lions replied with an Andre Pretorius penalty before scrum-half Jarno Vermaak produced some quick thinking to nip in for his side's first try.
Pretorius slotted the conversion and then reduced the deficit to a point at 14-13 with a drop-goal.
The Waratahs extended their advantage on the half-hour mark as Tatafu Polota-Nau found Phil Waugh unmarked at the back of the line-out allowing the Tahs captain to crash over.
They notched their fourth try and a bonus-point just three minutes later as Peter Playford sped clear to score, ensuring the visitors went in 28-13 to the good at the interval.
The game looked as good as won for the Waratahs, but the in-form Vermaak, with his fourth try in three games, began a Lions revival and having converted Pretorius landed his second drop-goal to move his team within five.
The same player then kicked a penalty and a remarkable win was on the cards when number eight Willem Alberts powered over to put the Lions ahead for the first time late on.
But an entralling, see-saw encounter was given a fitting finale as replacement Carter popped up to hand his side a crucial victory.
