FORMER Gloucester skipper Greig Laidlaw helped create one of the British and Irish Lions’ tries on Tuesday morning but the tourists fell short to the Highlanders by one point.

The home side won 23-22 in a fast, frantic and often feisty clash in Dunedin.

Laidlaw was involved in the try for Lions skipper Sam Warburton which put the tourists 22-13 ahead before the Highlanders hit back with a try just on the hour and a winning penalty on 74 minutes.

The Lions had a chance to win the game but a long range penalty from Elliott Daly inside his own half fell short and a final attacking line-out with seconds to go was won by the New Zealand region and booted into touch to win the match.

It means the Lions have won two matches and lost two out of their four games so far.

They now play the Maori All Blacks on Saturday in Rotorua – considered as the fourth Test match – before taking on the Chiefs next Tuesday and then the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday week.