FORCE CLAIMS BACK-TO-BACK TAHS WINS IN 2015

May 9 • General News, Super Rugby • 1391 Views • Comments Off on FORCE CLAIMS BACK-TO-BACK TAHS WINS IN 2015

The Western Force has recorded its third successive win over reigning champions, the NSW Waratahs, following tonight’s 18-11 victory at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium).

After claiming the opening round encounter in Sydney, the Force scored two tries to one tonight in Perth, to convert a 13-6 half-time lead into the seven-point victory.

The Waratahs got within two points with 23 minutes remaining, before a storming Force rolling maul from a lineout 20 metres out, allowed captain Matt Hodgson to score his third try in as many matches and round out the final 18-11 score line.

Scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens also crossed for his second try in as many matches, after exploiting a gap in the Tahs defensive line in the first half.

Loping lock Steve Mafi was again highly involved in carrying the ball forward and forcing turnovers in a performance recognised with the Haigh & Hastings Man of the Match, while Ben McCalman also continued his outstanding season.

The Force has the week off for the bye before returning to the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) to front the Highlanders on Saturday, 23 May.

Tickets to Western Force’s next home match against the Highlanders on Saturday, 23 May are now available! Visit ticketmaster.com.au.

WHAT THEY SAID…

Michael Foley, Western Force Head Coach

“It was fantastic. It’s been a long time coming and the boys deserved it.

“The attitude in that game was what made these guys the best team in the club’s history [last season]. There have been a number of narrow losses or ounces of the ball or calls that have gone against us this year. There’s been one or two times where that [attitude] has been missing and that’s the most disappointing thing out of the year – not the results. Tonight they played through the 80 minutes with wonderful attitude.

“Our thrill is watching our players’ faces when we win and watching our fans. They’re so good to us. So many people were saying to us ‘no matter what, we’re going to be here’ and that’s incredibly motivating. Particularly over the last period when we haven’t been getting the results, you feel very disappointed that you’ve let some of those people down – and if you don’t feel like that then you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. The professional and commercial side of the game is one thing but to be able to go out there and honour the support you get is fantastic. We’ve got a very tough, rusted on group of people that just keep coming back for us and they were buzzing tonight. Our players and our fans were buzzing, and that’s fantastic.”

2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 12
Saturday, 9 May 2015 at nib Stadium, Perth	Kick-off: 5.40pm	Crowd: 10,115
Western Force 18 (Ryan Louwrens, Matt Hodgson tries; Luke Burton conversion, 2 penalties) defeated NSW Waratahs 11 (Taqele Naiyaravoro try; Bernard Foley 2 penalties)
Half time: Force 13-6
Yellow Cards: Sekope Kepu (33 min), Matt Hodgson (70 min)
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann

Western Force

1.Pekahou Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Tetera Faulkner, 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Ryan Louwrens, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Marcel Brache, 15. Luke Morahan.

Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Guy Millar, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Kane Koteka, 21. Alby Mathewson, 22. Luke Burton, 23. Mitchell Scott

Head Coach: Michael Foley

Waratahs

1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tolu Latu, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Will Skelton, 5. David Dennis (c), 6. Jacques Potgieter, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Wycliff Palu, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 15. Israel Folau.

Res: 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Mitchell Chapman, 20. Tala Gray, 21. Pat McCutcheon, 22. Brendan McKibbin, 23. Matt Carraro.

Head Coach: Michael Cheika