AUCKLAND - A Sampie Mastriet try secured the Golden Lions their first win of the season Saturday when they beat the Auckland Blues 13-10 at North Harbour Stadium.
File photo shows South Africa's Sampie Mastriet being tackled by DJ Forbes of New Zealand during the final of the USA Sevens Rugby tournament at Sam Boyd Stadium n Las Vegas, Nevada on January 26, 2014
In the battle to escape the bottom of the ladder, the Lions rare win on New Zealand soil left the Blues suffering their fourth consecutive loss, the worst start to a season for the franchise.
The Blues dominated possession and led 10-3 at half-time but in the end they were trumped by the Lions' superior scrum and solid defence.
While the Blues had four chances to cross the line in the second half, and were held up each time, the Lions succeeded with their only try-scoring opportunity.
For 79 minutes in a game that never reached great heights, the Lions never threatened the Auckland line but in the one moment when a chance fell their way they were ready.
Against the run of play, Andries Coetzee found a hole through the Blues defence, Elton Jantjies created more space and Mastriet scored in the left corner.
Jantjies' conversion and a penalty were the only other points in the second half as the Lions first victory in New Zealand since 2011 ruined what should have been a celebratory night for the Lions.
Evergreen Blues hooker Keven Mealamu became the most capped player in the history of Super rugby with his milestone 163rd game moving him one past the 162 of former NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds lock Nathan Sharpe.
Fellow All Blacks forward Jerome Kaino was also being honoured for reaching a century of Super games.
The Blues played as if inspired by the achievements of their two elder statesmen but despite an overwhelming amount of possession they were punished by the Lions for handling errors and indecisive running.
They scored first through an Ihaia West penalty and after Jantjies replied for the Lions, Kaino drove over in a maul for the first try of the match.
West's conversion gave the Blues a seven-point lead at half-time, but despite spending much of the second half deep in Lions territory the tight Lions defence denied them further points.
West missed what could have been an equalising penalty with a few minutes to go, and when the Blues were awarded a scrum for a last attacking opportunity with time on the clock they were pushed off the ball by the superior Lions pack.
The loss ended a tumultuous week for the Blues who were forced to deny growing reports that coach John Kirwan's job was on the line after opening the season with losses to the Waikato Chiefs, Western Stormers and Central Cheetahs.