Published Saturday, 13 June 2009
They preserved their unbeaten South Africa tour record - but only thanks to a late James Hook penalty.
The Wales back landed a 50-metre strike four minutes from time after going on as a second-half substitute.
The Lions looked in charge thanks to tries by Tommy Bowe, Ugo Monye and Martyn Williams, while Stephen Jones added eight points from the boot.
Ireland wing Bowe struck 12 minutes before half-time, rounding off a slick passing move which subdued a committed and well-organised Western Province outfit.
Then he cut the line superbly, breaking three tackles to send his fellow wing Ugo Monye over for a stunningly-executed score.
Fly-half Stephen Jones added two penalties and a conversion, while the home side managed drop-goals from Willem de Waal and Joe Pietersen, plus two de Waal penalties.
The Lions made a scrappy start to the second period, handing de Waal two long-range penalty chances, the second of which he accepted, cutting the deficit to just three points.
The tourists, watched by their biggest crowd of the tour so far - 34,176 - needed to regroup, and once again they stepped up a gear when required.
Livewire scrum-half Harry Ellis sniped away at the heels of his forwards, launching wave after wave of attacks which ended with a concerted forward rumble and a try for Williams.
Jones could not convert and McGeechan then made three changes approaching the hour mark, sending on hooker Ross Ford, prop Euan Murray and lock Simon Shaw.
The Lions were 3-0 ahead on tries, knowing one more score would probably finish off the home side, but another de Waal penalty cut the gap to 23-18.
Western Province then drew level through a high-class try by Pietersen, who rounded off a spell of powerful work from the pack.
De Waal missed the touchline conversion, but the score set up a gripping closing 15 minutes, with the Lions hauled back to 23-23.
Kearney limped off after being hurt in the build-up to Pietersen's try, and was replaced by James Hook, whose first contribution was to land a long-range penalty chance short.
The Lions had lost their spark and verve, but they suffered two poor decisions against them.
Number eight Andy Powell was penalised for a perfectly legal tackle, then Monye was called back after taking a quick throw-in inside his own 22, even though there seemed nothing questionable about it.
The Lions had to dig deep entering the last five minutes, and Hook came up trumps, landing a monster 50-metre penalty to secure the win.