Story of each
The Lions have won one Test out of eight played in Christchurch - not a pass mark. Two out of nine will improve matters but still not produce a pass mark!
Here with scorers are the eight Tests, all played at Lancaster Park, now called Jade Stadium:
5 July 1930: New Zealand won 13-10
It was the second Test of the series after the Lions had won the first 6-3 at Carisbrook.
It was cold with the prospect of rain but spectators came early in the morning. The ground was packed with 32 000 spectators at kick-off.
The winning score was the first of the match and now a method of scoring that no longer exists - the goal from the mark, worth three points in those days, an elaborate way of scoring which had its particular ceremonies. The kicker was not allowed to handle the ball in contact with the ground even to place the ball after an illegal charge by the opponents.
Mark Nicholls marked the kick and Fred Lucas held it for him. Lucas lowered the ball to the ground, the Lions charged, but Nicholls goaled. 3-0.
The Lions took the lead when a backline movement from a scrum saw Carl Aarvold run past Don Oliver to score midway between the posts and touch. Frank Prentice, a forward, converted.
Cliff Porter, the All Black loose forward, gathered a dropped pass and gave to Anthony Novis who fed George Hart, who scored at the posts. Nicholls converted, and the All Blacks led 8-3, which was the half-time score.
The Lions lost Paul Murray with a dislocated shoulder and were forced to play on with 14 men for more than half the game, giving the All Black pack the edge.
From a line-out near the Lions' line, Nicholls broke and sent Oliver over in the corner. Nicholls converted. 13-5.
The last try of the match was a brilliant individual effort as Aarvold ran 40 yards to score.
From here the All Blacks went on to win 15-10 in Auckland and 22-8 in Wellington.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: George Hart, Don Oliver
Cons: Mark Nicholls 2
Goal from a mark: Mark Nicholls
For the Lions:
Tries: Carl Aarvold 2
Cons: Frank Prentice 2
10 June 1950: New Zealand won 8-0
The first Test had again been in Carisbrook and again close. This time the teams drew 9-9.
The Lions were playing well. New Zealand had gone seven Tests without a victory. There were 43 000 spectators, the weather was fine, the ground was heavy, the match was pretty drab.
Big Pat Crowley scored the first try from a scrum.
For the second Laurence Haig broke past legendary Jackie Kyle and gave to Ron Elvidge. Strong Elvidge gave to Roy Roper who scored. Bob Scott was kicking poorly and so Haig took over and goaled this one.
Despite being down to 14 men after losing Bill McKay to concussion, the Lions had the better of the second half but could not score.
After this the All Blacks won 6-3 in Wellington and 11-8 in Auckland.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Roy Roper, Pat Crowley
Con: Laurence Haig
29 August 1959: New Zealand won 22-8
New Zealand had won the first two Tests and this Test decided the series in the All Blacks' favour. The Lions won the last at Eden Park.
The tourists' team had been strengthened while the All Blacks had made changes.
It was a beautiful day, a hard field and 57 000 spectators came to watch the match, a record for the ground at that time.
Urbahn broke off a tighthead and sent Ray Caulton over. After John Faull had levelled the scores, Don Clarke scored with a penalty and then a left-footed drop.
The Lions then scored the try of the match when Phil Horrocks-Taylor broke and sent David Hewitt over. Faull converted.
The All Black pack was on top and mighty Colin Meads scored when they rushed at the Lions' line. Clarke converted to make it 14-8 at half-time.
The forwards set up Urbahn's try and then Caulton's second, which Clarke converted.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Ray Caulton 2, Roger Urbahn, Colin Meads
Cons: Don Clarke 2
Pen: Don Clarke
Drop: Don Clarke
For the Lions:
Try: David Hewitt
Con: John Faull
Pen: John Faull
27 August 1966: New Zealand won 19-6
Again it was the third Test of the series and again it sealed the series as New Zealand had won the first two Tests. They also won the fourth for a whitewash.
This win has the "comfortable victory" look about it but in fact the All Blacks three tries to two.
It was cold, the ground was slippery and 52 000 people watched.
The Lions had the better of the first half, scoring two tries to nil. But Mick Williment had banged over two kicks and the score was 6-all.
Mike Gibson made the first try with a break. Stuart Watkins dribbled, picked up and gave inside. Several Lions handled before David Watkins scored.
Chris Laidlaw's pass made Steel's try. A kind bounce set up a try in the corner for Waka Nathan, which Williment converted. Strong Ian McRae broke and the forwards carried it on amongst themselves before Nathan got his second try.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Anthony Steel, Waka Nathan 2
Cons: Mick Williment 2
Pens: Mick Williment 2
For the Lions:
Tries: David Watkins, Ronald Lamont
6 July 1971: New Zealand won 22-12
The Lions won in Dunedin and came to Christchurch for the second Test, which tied the series. The Lions won again in Wellington and drew in Auckland, thus, famously, winning the series.
This was an era of great Lions.
The All Blacks had much the better of this Test, and would have won more handsomely had new cap Laurie Mains, in for local idol Fergie McCormick, kicked better at goal. The All Blacks got off to a great start when Bob Burgess scored from Sid Going's pass.
When the Lions equalised it was a try of great quality. JJ Williams counterattacked from his own 25. Mike Gibson sent Gerald Davies skating away for a great try.
Going scored in the corner and Mains converted. Barry John kicked a penalty goal, and the score was 8-6 to New Zealand at the break.
In the second half Going broke and passed to Bryan Williams, but Williams had vanished in an early tackle by Gerald Davies, and the referee awarded a penalty try against the Lions.
After this it was all New Zealand as Burgess scored a second and almost a third and Ian Kirkpatrick went on a characteristic run with the ball in one hand. That made it 22-6. The match was won but the Lions came back with a try by Davies and a dropped goal by John.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Bob Burgess 2, Sid Going, Ian Kirkpatrick, penalty try
Cons: Laurie Mains 2
Pen: Laurie Mains
For the Lions
Tries: Gerald Davies 2
Pen: Barry John
Drop: Barry John
9 July 1977: Lions won 13-9
It was the second Test after the All Blacks had won the first. It made a series victory possible for the Lions, but hope faded as the All Blacks won in Dunedin and then in Auckland.
The Lions made five changes in their pack. Of those dropped two were Welsh and two were Irish. Of those who came in three
were English. Imagine the outcry if Clive Woodward did that on this tour! But then the coach was John Dawes and he was Welsh and no sectarianism arose.
It was a mess of a match.
To start with the ground had been cut up by a provincial match the week before and then flooded by torrential rains. A helicopter was used to help with the drying out.
Then there was much fighting in the marsh. Fisticuffs, late tackles and careless boots made it an unedifying match with much blame flung the way of Kevin Everleigh and Ian Kirkpatrick.
The Lions led 13-6 at half-time.
Scorers:
For the Lions:
Try: JJ Williams
Pens: Phil Bennett 3
For New Zealand:
Pens: Bryan Williams 3
4 June 1983: New Zealand won 16-12
The weather was ideal and there was a crowd of 44 000 for the first Test of the series.
The Lions led 9-6 at half-time but in the second half, with the score 9-9, Cowboy Shaw scooped up the ball which Bernie Fraser had flung infield and plunged over the line for the only try of the match. That made it 13-9 in the days of the four-point try.
A penalty for the Lions and a drop for the All Blacks completed the scoring.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Try: Mark Shaw
Pens: Alan Hewson 3
Drop: Alan Hewson
For the Lions
Pens: Ollie Campbell 3
Drop: Olly Campbell
17 June 1993: New Zealand won 20-18
It was a series which the Lions could have won despite scoring only two tries in three Tests.
In 1959 Don Clarke had kicked six penalties and won the match 18-17 for the All Blacks, to much British chagrin. This time Hastings kicked six penalties.
With ten minutes to go Hastings made it 18-17 to the Lions but then with a minute to go Grant Fox kicked the penalty goal which one the match.
Again their was British chagrin as they believed that Frank Bunce's try after two minutes was not a try as Ieuan Evans had the ball and they further believed that the last penalty was unjustified.
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Frank Bunce
Pens: Fox 4
For the Lions:
Pens: Gavin Hastings 6