FORCE FALL TO REBELS IN SEASON OPENER

Feb 28 • General News, Super Rugby • 1174 Views • Comments Off on FORCE FALL TO REBELS IN SEASON OPENER

The Western Force have fallen to the Melbourne Rebels 25-19, despite a stunning performance from new recruit Jono Lance who put up all 19 of the Force’s points, scoring a four penalties, and converting the kick attempt on his own try.

The Force, who were trying out their new attack-first system struggled to find a clinical finish at points during the match, but showed promising signs through their set piece and backline.

Western Force head coach Michael Foley said despite the match being scrappy at points, he was happy with the effort his side put in whilst trialing a new system.

“It was scrappy, but the thing I was pleased about was that we definitely tried to play the way we said we wanted to play,” he said.

“Clearly ball control would be a big one of those things, we had a lot of possession tonight, and we just didn’t control the ball well enough.

“I think guys looked to play which was a good thing, we just probably didn’t make decisions we might have after reflecting on those.

“We were breaking the line, and we were creating opportunities, we just weren’t finishing them off.

“But as I say you do something so radically different to what you’ve done before, you practice hard and see good signs of it, and I think the thing for us is to be brave and stick with it.”

It was Rebels utility back Reece Hodge who opened the scoring, converting a penalty shot in the 2^nd minute of the match putting the visitors up 3-0.

The Force stayed patient to tie up the score in the 10^th minute, after a Rebels breakdown infringement allowed Jono Lance a shot on goal from inside the 22. 3-3.

Lance was able to split the uprights again in the 21^st minute, converting another penalty goal from 39 metres out after Rebels scrum half Ben Meehan was caught offside at the breakdown. The Force took their first lead of the night at 6-3.

Reece Hodge found a pass from Tamati Ellison in the 30^th minute, breaking the Force’s defensive line inside the 22, which set up a quick offload for the Rebels debutant who crossed the line for his first major of the contest.

The Force responded in the 35^th, with a kick into touch from Jono Lance putting his side in position for a five-metre lineout. This created an opportunity for the backs to swing the ball wide and which would allow Lance to collect a pass, sidestepping through the line of defence and powering through the final two men to score the Force’s lone try for the night. Lances own conversion put the Force up 13-10.

Adam Thompson crossed the line for the Rebels at the stroke of half time, placing the ball down in the right hand corner beneath a pile of bodies. After TMO review it was determined to be a good try. Reece Hodge’s successful conversion put the score at 17-13 at the end of 40 minutes.

Jono Lance opened the second half scoring, with a 44^th minute field goal from 27 metres out cutting the deficit to one point. 17-16.

Reece Hodge scored a penalty goal for the Rebels in the 56^th minute, which was followed only minutes later by Jono Lance’s fourth penalty goal to put the Force within one point. 20-19.

The Rebels closed out the scoring with Reece Hodge completing his double after the Rebels brought the ball up from deep inside their own half on the back of a Tamati Ellison line break. The missed conversion closed out the scoring at 25-19.

The Force will be back in action this Saturday, 5 March, at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland.