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Hurricanes vs. Lions: Rory Best refuses to criticise ref after draw

Lions captain Rory Best, right, congratulates Tommy Seymour on one of his two tries. MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images

The British & Irish Lions were held to a 31-31 draw by the Hurricanes in the final midweek match of the 2017 tour, as the hosts took full advantage of Iain Henderson's late yellow card.

Prior to the Ireland lock's sin-binning the tourists had looked home and dry as George North added a try to Tommy Seymour's brace.

But after Henderson headed to the bin in the 66th-minute, the Hurricanes stormed back into contention from 14 points down and were unlucky not to secure a famous win.

Here is what Lions coach Warren Gatland, and captain on the night Rory Best made of the match following the final whistle.

Captain Rory Best

He told Sky Sports: "[Henderson's yellow card] was obviously touch and go but when you're being officiated by a quality referee like Romain Poite and he takes his time and goes to the TMO, you've got to trust that the guy has got it right.

"The frustrating thing is that we had a penalty advantage there. Hendy was absolutely fabulous and that small error.... you could tell that he was disappointed, but we've got to be bigger than a yellow card costing us that many points.

"It's very frustrating. They're Super Rugby champions and are a very good side. We'll look back at the mistakes we made that let them back into it and be frustrated.

"This is potentially the last game of the tour for a few of us, so we have to look at the positives as well.

"I cannot fault the effort. Maybe we needed to show more composure and be more clinical at times."

Coach Warren Gatland

"The penalties we gave away were a bit soft and they allowed them back into it.

"We felt like we played some good rugby, but that yellow card was a penalty to us and it ends up being a penalty reversed.

"We had Henderson off the field for 10 minutes and conceded 14 points. To me that's the game in a nut shell."