NSW Waratahs………………17
British & Irish Lions………..47
LEIGH Halfpenny scored 30 points, including two tries, as the Lions tuned up for the first Test against Australia by destroying the Waratahs.
The record success over the New South Wales team maintained the tourists' 100 per cent record on this trip and will leave them in good heart ahead of the series opener.
Halfpenny was one of several excellent performers, the full-back landing eight goal-kicks from as many attempts and showing good pace to claim his touchdowns.
It was a triumphant night for the Lions, marred only by an injury that saw Jamie Roberts limp off with a suspected torn hamstring late in the game.
The tourists will be anxious for their midfield battering ram to recover for the opening Test on Saturday, but Warren Gatland will be heartened by the display of Jonathan Davies, who scored a try himself and caused havoc with his strong running.
There were also excellent shows from locks Paul O'Connell and Alun Wyn Jones, both of whom worked tirelessly. Jones produced his best display of the trip, one that will almost certainly seal his Test spot.
The Lions scored five tries all told, with Jonathan Sexton and Tom Croft also crossing.
Tom Carter replied with a brace of touchdowns for the hosts and Brendan McKibbin bagged a couple of conversions and a penalty for the Waratahs.
But the Lions were good value for their win. They were too strong at forward and too sharp behind for opponents who were game but not good enough to threaten Gatland's team.
Sam Warburton had a sound match, making his tackles and showing intense commitment. The Lions weren't great at the breakdown, where Mike Phillips didn't have enough protection, but it would be a surprise if Warburton didn't lead the Lions against Australia.
It was 23-10 at the break, with the Lions having scored two tries to the hosts' one.
They shocked the Waratahs with their power, invariably making ground with ball in hand and knocking back blue-shirted players in the tackle.
Their speed caused problems as well.
There was almost a try in the first minute when a lightning raid saw Jonathan Davies give Simon Zebo a run for the line, only for Drew Mitchell to hurtle across to put in a tackle that caused the debut-making Irishman to put a toe in touch.
The Waratahs didn't heed the warning, with Jonathan Sexton crossing minutes later after good work from Zebo and Davies, the Scarlet putting in a one-handed offload that freed Ireland's fly-half.
Credit the home side: they may have been missing ten players but they responded with a fine score of their own when fly-half Brendan Foley spotted space from deep and hoisted a kick that Peter Betham collected before shrugging off Sean Maitland's attempted tackle.
Betham transferred the ball inside to Carter and he had the gas to finish the move in the corner.
The Lions encountered problems at the breakdown where the Waratahs were spoiling ball for Phillips, prompting the referee to warn the hosts, but the Lions had a cutting edge the hosts couldn't live with.
Two tries from Halfpenny hoisted the score to 30-10 after 44 minutes, the second score seeing Sexton, Roberts and Davies engineer the opening and the full-back flash over.
It wasn't all one-way traffic. Carter claimed his second try for the Waratahs, and the Super 15 outfit didn't lack for effort.
But the Lions were too strong. Croft surged over for the visitors' fourth touchdown after the cover was stretched out wide, and Halfpenny kept slotting his goal-kicks.
The Lions made a series of substitutions that disrupted momentum, but Davies completed the rout when he crossed unopposed.
Gatland later called the display top drawer.
The Lions are looking in good shape ahead of their Brisbane date next weekend.
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