Driving on

MICHAEL OWEN heads back home tonight having underlined his claim for a crack at the All Blacks later this month.

The Newport Gwent Dragons star, who returns this weekend to witness the birth of his second child, was one of the shining lights in the Lions second tour win over Taranaki in New Plymouth.

In the end the scoreline looked all too easy, though the watching All Blacks will have seen little to concern them.

But the only Welshman in the starting line-up impressed with some impressive breaks and incisive passing, meaning he should enjoy his long flight.

And Charlie Hodgson - the subject of some vitriolic coverage in the Kiwi media - responded in style with a confident display at fly-half.

He hoisted a trademark cross-field kick in the tenth minute that Geordan Murphy gathered for an easy try, only for play to be pulled back for an earlier forward pass.

Hodgson continued to orchestrate the best of the Lions attacking moves and he kicked them into the lead with a 20th minute penalty.

But Taranaki's fired-up forwards edged their side back into the game.

And it will be a matter of major concern for coach Sir Clive Woodward that the Lions scrum was dismantled on too many occasions as the hosts asserted their authority.

Eventually the Lions static rearguard was broken, concerted pressure on the line reaping dividends when Chris Masoe picked up a loose ball and burst over the line for a try that Sam Young easily converted.

Owen did his best to rally the stunned Lions, setting Hodgson clear with a perfect inside pass but the Sale man was illegally hauled to ground.

He duly threaded the resulting penalty to reduce the deficit to a single point, but the Lions for the second match in succession were under pressure at the interval.

Taranaki kept the Lions pegged inside their own 22 after the break as the visitors' pack continued to struggle in the scrum.

But some fluid passing between Cusiter and Hodgson helped the Lions back into the game, captain Martin Corry wrestling his away across for a try that was only confirmed after inspection from the video referee.

It proved to be the turning point as indiscipline cost the hosts.

Hodgson landed two penalties as Taranaki lost Andrew Hore to the sin bin while some slick passing allowed Shane Horgan to burst across for another try.

Taranaki's stiff early resolve now broken, Murphy raced across for two late tries to gave the scoreline a gloss feel, although Brendon Watt grabbed a late consolation score.