In the wake of the Test team's comprehensive rout by the All Blacks, the midweek team were asked to restore some pride at the expense of a side with a proud record against the Lions - and they delivered.

Wales flanker Martyn Williams crossed for their only try while Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara scored nine points in a tense encounter which was thrown wide open by Auckland winger Isa Nacewa's 62nd minute try.

The Lions, hampered by the early loss of in-form fly-half Charlie Hodgson to injury, were put under tremendous pressure in the final 20 minutes but kept their nerve with O'Gara's kicking proving effective.

Hodgson settled the Lions' nerves with an early penalty and then carved Auckland wide open with an arcing run but his ensuing kick was cleared under pressure by Nacewa.

Auckland's ball supply was being restricted by poor line-out throwing from hooker Semisi Telefoni - their third-choice number two because of All Black call-ups - while sloppy handling errors were also taking their toll.

Gordon D'Arcy prevented Joe Rokocoko from squeezing in at the right corner and Auckland maintained the pressure with powerful prop John Afoa going over the Lions line only to have the try disallowed following television replays.

The Lions were slowly surrendering the initiative and their cause was not helped by an injury to Hodgson who limped off after taking a heavy knock with O'Gara coming on as his replacement.

Denis Hickie wasted a glorious chance by spilling a cross-field kick from O'Gara who then slotted a penalty but the score was quickly cancelled out by three point kick from Brent Ward.

The Lions were the victim of a refereeing blunder from Steve Walsh who having failed to brandish a yellow card for an obstruction on Williams then reversed the penalty after wrongly accusing Ben Kay of starting a brief exchange of punches.

Auckland were starting to buckle and their defence cracked two minutes before half-time when a run from Mark Cueto swept the Lions upfield before the scoring pass was supplied by Matt Dawson to Williams.

Ward kicked his second penalty and then converted a 62nd-minute try from Nacewa who finished off a move begun by fly-half Tasesa Lavea, cutting the Lions' lead to a single point.

Ward saw a 70th-minute penalty strike the right post before O'Gara showed the Auckland full-back how it was done, extending the Lions' points cushion to four points as the tourists held out for victory.

Scoring

Auckland: Try - Isa Nacewa. Conversion - Brent Ward. Penalties - Brent Ward (2)

Lions: Try - Martyn Williams. Penalties - Charlie Hodgson, Ronan O'Gara (3)

Teams

Auckland: Brent Ward, Isa Nacewa, Ben Atiga, Sam Tuitupou, Joe Rokocoko, Tasesa Lavea, Steve Devine, Angus MacDonald, Daniel Braid, Justin Collins (captain), Bryce Williams, Brad Mika, John Afoa, Semisi Telefoni, Saimone Taumoepeau

Reserves: John Fonokalafi, Chris Heard, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino, Taniela Moa, Isaia Toe'ava, Gavin Williams

British and Irish Lions: Geordan Murphy (IRL), Mark Cueto (ENG), Will Greenwood (ENG), Gordon D'Arcy (IRL), Denis Hickie (IRL), Charlie Hodgson (ENG), Matt Dawson (ENG), Michael Owen (WAL), Martyn Williams (WAL), Jason White (SCO), Ben Kay (ENG), Simon Shaw (ENG), John Hayes (IRL), Gordon Bulloch (SCO) captain, Graham Rountree (ENG)

Reserves: Andy Titterrell (ENG), Matt Stevens (ENG), Brent Cockbain (WAL), Martin Corry (ENG), Chris Cusiter (SCO), Ronan O'Gara (IRL), Shane Horgan (IRL)

Referee: Steve Walsh (NZL)