Lions cruise to victory over combined NSW-Queensland side
Tourists score 10 tries, keep clean sheet as they display some scintillating speed
The British & Irish Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the tour of Australia by running in 10 tries to overwhelm a willing but outgunned semi-professional Combined Country side 64-0 at Hunter Stadium on Tuesday.
Wales winger George North confirmed his rich form with two of the tourists' six first-half tries but captain Brian O'Driscoll and coach Warren Gatland were disappointed the Irishman's try was one of only four after the break.
While Gatland said he had been pleased overall with the performance, his brusque manner indicated he was not so happy with the way the Lions stalled in the second half.
"There was some excellent stuff and some average stuff as well," said the New Zealander, adding that the Lions had come through the match unscathed in terms of injury.
"Just a few turnovers and stuff, the team only had one training session together and there was excellent handling and off-loading and tries as well."
With Gatland planning to play a majority of his test side against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, the Lions had no motivation to go easy on the invitational side, which included a carpenter, plumber and a medical student.
The Lions were superior in every department and Gatland's disappointment was perhaps that they had failed to challenge their record victory of 116-10 against Western Australia in 2001, when O'Driscoll made his Lions debut.