CHIEFS TOO STRONG FOR FORCE IN HAMILTON

Mar 26 • General News, Super Rugby • 4176 Views • Comments Off on CHIEFS TOO STRONG FOR FORCE IN HAMILTON

The Western Force have disappointingly gone down to the Chiefs 53-10 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton this evening.

After a tight first half with the Force heading into the sheds just two points down, the Chiefs came out and scored 41 unanswered points in the second half. The loss in Hamilton now leaves the Force 0-2 in New Zealand with the team heading to Dunedin next week to take on last year’s champions the Highlanders.

Western Force captain Matt Hodgson was bitterly disappointed with the performance and says the team needs to play 80 minutes of rugby.

“We were in the match for 60 minutes, and I think we took a few more opportunities this week, but we just didn’t play the full 80,” he said. “They came out firing and we dropped off and they hurt us.”

“We went away from our systems towards the end there and they brought their bench on and they were really good for them. We need to look at this game and transfer 60 minutes into 80 minutes.

“We’re really close, we’re breaking some of the best defensive sides, we just have to capitalise. I know a win for us is just around the corner and we’re going to stick at it, we’ll be there soon enough.”

It took nearly 12 minutes for the first score of the match and it was through Chiefs fullback Damian McKenzie. After a strong set of phases from the Force, which saw them well inside their 22, a turn over from Chief’s captain Sam Cane quickly turned into a dangerous Chiefs attack. After a series of special offloads McKenzie pounced and dotted down for the first points of the game. He couldn’t convert his own good work leaving the score at 5-0.

The Western Force once again played some strong sets of phases and after a super line break from Semisi Masirewa the Force found themselves just 10 metres from their try line, a penalty at the break down from the Chiefs led to Peter Grant splitting the uprights and taking the three points. 5-3

Not five minutes later, some great work at the breakdown from the men in blue led to a steal from Alby Mathewson and a beautiful inside ball to Ben Tapuai who sliced through the Chiefs defence and easily went over for the Force’s first try of the match and his second of the season. Peter Grant had no problems with the conversion and pushed the men into the lead 10-5.

The game then went to and fro with both teams trying their best to earn territory and control the game. The Chiefs then had a scrum 5 metres from their try line and veteran number 8 Michael Leitch ran a strong line off the back of the scrum and crashed over to level the scores. McKenzie converted and re-gained the lead 12-10.

The Chiefs struck first in the second half, after a turnover in the Force’s 22, the Waikato locals rumbled their way down the pitch and Charlie Ngatai crossed for his first of four tries of the game. McKenzie converted and extended their lead to 19-10.

The Force were then left with 14 men after number 8 Angus Cottrell was handed a yellow card after a dangerous tackle on Chiefs winger Sam McNicol. The Chiefs wasted no time and scored a great try through first gamer Toni Pulu. McKenzie couldn’t convert the kick as the home side extended their lead to 24-10.

The Chiefs then went into overdrive, maximising the time with the Force only having 14 men on the field. Charlie Ngatai went over for his second try after an incredible line break and a number of tackle busts he crashed over and pushed the lead out to 29-10. It then took just three minutes for winger James Lowe to go over after a myriad of missed tackles from the Western Force. McKenzie slotted the conversion and the Chiefs were in the box seat. 36-10

It didn’t end there, with Chief’s fullback Damian McKenzie going over for his double after some swift ball movement from the Chiefs. The conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score at 41-10.

But it was Charlie Ngatai’s night, as he cut through the Force’s defence twice in the last four minutes to score four tries for the night. Stephen Donald could only convert the last try as the final whistle blew and the Chiefs took the bacon with a 53-10 win in Hamilton.