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Results Based News

Brave Lions fall just short

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 22/06/2009

South Africa survived a late onslaught from the British & Irish Lions to win Saturday's first Test in Durban.

The online betting market favourite Springboks roared out of the starting blocks and ultimately secured a 26-21 victory, but the touring Lions came mighty close to stunning the reigning world champions with a brave fightback.

The tourists had trailed 19-7 at the interval after a first half when everything went the Springboks' way.

The Lions missed penalties, had a try ruled out and were mauled at both the line-out and scrum.

After the interval they bounced back and two tries from Tom Croft brought them right back into the match and set up a grandstand finale.

However, despite dominating possession in the final ten minutes, the tourists were unable to pierce a dogged South Africa defence and claim a third try which would have won the game.

Can the Lions gain their revenge in the second Test next weekend? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

Elsewhere in the world of rugby union, New Zealand edged a tight game 14-10 over France in atrocious conditions at Wellington to level their Test series at 1-1.

Meanwhile, Australia were 34-12 winners over Italy in Melbourne as the Wallabies wrapped up a 2-0 series whitewash.

In formula one, Sebastian Vettel will start the British Grand Prix from pole position after ending a dominant practice series with the fastest time in qualifying.

His flying Red Bull edged Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello into second place while team-mate Mark Webber was third fastest.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli will start from fourth place on the grid and both he and Kazuki Nakajimi for Williams scraped ahead of runaway world championship leader Jenson Button in sixth.

Nico Rosberg and Timo Glock for Williams and Toyota will be on the fourth row, while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and the Renault of Fernando Alonso completed the top ten.

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