SYDNEY (Reuters) - Leigh Halfpenny contributed 30 points as the British and Irish Lions crushed the New South Wales Waratahs 47-17 with some thrilling running rugby to claim a fifth win in five tour matches on Saturday.

Halfpenny scored two tries in four minutes around half-time and converted eight kicks from eight attempts to add 20 points in another flawless kicking display at the Sydney Football Stadium.

However, there was bad news for Welsh centre Jamie Roberts, who will have scans on suspected torn hamstring and is doubtful for the first Test against Australia next weekend.

"It was a good effort and we're very pleased about the outcome," coach Warren Gatland told a news conference. "To be fair the Waratahs took it to us but I think the boys handled it magnificently, and in the end we were just too big and too powerful for them."

The Waratahs, without 11 Wallabies through national duty or injury, gave the Lions only their second real contest of the tour in front of 40,805 fans, and two tries from combative centre Tom Carter kept them in the match for the first 50 minutes.

"We were able to put some good moves together ourselves but perhaps lacked a bit of the X factor to finish it off," said Waratahs coach Michael Cheika. "Probably, on turnover ball, their class really showed."