Adam Ashley-Cooper cuts inside a Lions defender 12 years ago, the last time they toured Australia. Photo: North Sydney Council
LIONS RUGBY WATCH
A composite indigenous team on debut pushed the British and Irish Lions midweek side in their 24-19 win at Docklands in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
The game was played in front of a reported 30,000-strong crowd at Docklands, involving a team that drew on First Nations and Pasifika players (including Maori).
The First Nations Pasifika (FNP) side troubled the Lions with their line speed and physicality, and went into the break tied up at 14-14.
Two tries from Irish call-up Jamie Osborne proved the difference as the Lions took a 24-14 lead with 17 minutes to go.
Former Melbourne Rebel Rob Leota set up a grandstand finish with a try in the 71st minute.
A last-gasp chance to possibly win the game went begging after a raid inside the Lions’ 22 ended with the ball in touch.
A late steal from Lion Henry Pollock and a mistake ended the game.
The Lions take on the Wallabies in Melbourne this Saturday and finish their tour in Sydney with the third Test on August 2.
STATES REAPING THE BENEFITS
Meanwhile, the SA Government says the Lions game against an Anzac team in Adelaide on game night generated a record number of hotel room occupancies for a single night across the city.
The government quoted figures from independent hotel data analytics firm STR that showed on Saturday, July 12, there was a record room nights occupancy of 10,752 (or 95% occupancy) with $3.9 million in revenue, the fifth highest on record.
The figure surpasses the previous record of 10,673 room nights on Saturday, April 19 (Easter long weekend).
The day before the game (Friday, July 11), there were 10,385 room nights occupied (92% occupancy) generating $3.2 million in revenue.
The historic match at Adelaide Oval was attended by 43,124 spectators.
- The Lions Test in Brisbane last weekend was expected to inject $55 million into the Brisbane economy, the Qld Government says.
Hotel occupancy rates were reported at 94% in Brisbane and 80% on the Gold Coast (according to STR data) in the lead-up to the game, the government added.
