WESTERN FORCE BEATEN BY BLUES IN AUCKLAND
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The Western Force has completed its two-match New Zealand tour with a 41-24 loss to the Blues at Auckland’s Eden Park today.
After leading 10-0 towards the end of the first half, the Blues scored three tries in 10 minutes either side of half-time – with Force reduced to 14 men following a yellow card to Dane Haylett-Petty – to open up what would be a match-winning lead.
The Force rallied to put on four tries of their own in the second term and record their second four-try bonus point in as many weeks, however, it was not enough to cover the eventual 17-point margin.
Captain Matt Hodgson was again in the thick of the action throughout the match and crossed for his second try in as many weeks, while scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens marked his first start in the run-on side with a try of his own in a solid performance.
The Force returns to Perth to take on the NSW Waratahs at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Saturday, 9 May.
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WHAT THEY SAID… |
Michael Foley, Western Force Head Coach |
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“What’s let us down on this tour is some of the areas in the physical side of the game – defence particularly. I thought our breakdown in the first half just stopped us capitalising on possession we had in the 22. We came out in the second half, we really fired into it and we opened up some chances. It’s a lesson for us when you play the sort of sides that have dangerous players, like the Blues, that you just can’t give them those cheap chances. “To score four tries in a half of footy is good for us and we’ve shown that two weeks in a row against sides that don’t necessarily leak a lot of tries. The Blues are a good defensive side and the Chiefs are probably the best defensive side in the comp, and we’ve scored eight tries in two games.” |
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2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 12 |
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Saturday, 2 May 2015 at Eden Park, Auckland |
Kick-off: 5.30pm (local)/1.30pm (AWST) |
Crowd: Not announced |
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Blues 41 (Melani Nanai 2; Steven Luatua, Akira Ioane Ihaia West tries; Daniel Bowden 2/2 conversions, 1/2 penalty goal, Ihaia West 2/2 conversions, 1/1 penalty goal, Lolagi Visinia 1/1 conversion) defeated Western Force 24 (Pek Cowan, Matt Hodgson, Ryan Louwrens, Ben McCalman tries; Luke Burton 1/1 conversion, 0/1 penalty goal, Sias Ebersohn 1/3 conversions) |
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Half time: Blues 17-0 |
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Yellow Cards: Dane Haylett-Petty (38 min) |
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Red Cards: Nil |
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Referee: Ben O’Keeffe |
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Western Force |
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1. Pekahou Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Tetera Faulkner, 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Ryan Louwrens, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Luke Burton, 13. Kyle Godwin, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Reserves: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Guy Millar, 19. Ross Haylett-Petty, 20. Kane Koteka, 21. Justin Turner, 22. Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, 23. Marcel Brache.
Head Coach: Michael Foley |
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Blues |
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1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu, 3. Charlie Faumuina. 4. Culum Retallick, 5. Hayden Triggs, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Brendon O’Connor, 8. Jerome Kaino (c), 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Dan Bowden, 11. Melani Nanai, 12. George Moala, 13. Francis Saili, 14. Lolagi Visinia, 15. Charles Piutau. Reserves: 16. James Parsons, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Steven Luatua, 20. Luke Braid, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Tevita Li Head Coach: Sir John Kirwan |
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BY THE CLOCK |
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Score |
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3 |
Force lock Wilhelm Steenkamp is penalised for being off his feet at the ruck. Daniel Bowden is successful with his penalty attempt. |
3-0 |
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5 |
Culum Retallick is penalised for obstructing the Force defence. Luke Burton’s 45m penalty attempt is just wide. |
3-0 |
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17 |
The Force defence is penalised for a high tackle on Bowden. Bowden’s misses the attempt at goal. |
3-0 |
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23 |
Blues scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan puts winger Melani Nanai down the left hand touchline to cross in the corner, despite a last ditch tackle from fullback Dane Haylett-Petty. TMO Ben Skeen confirms the try. Bowden kicks the conversion. |
10-0 |
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38 |
Haylett-Petty receives a yellow card for ‘careless play’ when colliding with Lolagi Visinia in the air. |
10-0 |
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40 |
Blues prop Tony Woodcock attempts to burrow over for a try but is judged to be inconclusive. From the ensuing scrum (for unplayable ball), Steve Luatua breaks off to cross under the posts. Bowden converts the try. |
17-0 |
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HALF TIME |
17-0 |
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43 |
George Moala and Brendon O’Connor both pass out of contact to send Nanai for his second try. Lolagi Visinia converts the try. |
24-0 |
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49 |
The Blues spread the ball wide to the right on the halfway line, with flanker Akira Ioane finding space before speeding away to score in the corner. Ihaia Wests converts. |
31-0 |
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52 |
A Nick Cummins burst down the left hand wing puts the Force on the attack inside the Blues’ quarter. The Force recycles possession across to the right before Pek Cowan bumps off two defenders to score. Burton converts. |
31-7 |
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59 |
From an attacking five-metre lineout, Matt Hodgson sneaks over to score his second try in as many matches. Sias Ebersohn’s conversion is unsuccessful. |
31-12 |
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63 |
Hodgson is penalised for hands in the ruck. Ihaia West adds the penalty goal. |
34-12 |
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67 |
West receives a ball in support of Nanai to scoot through for try adjacent to the posts. He converts his own try. |
41-12 |
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70 |
Scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens takes a quick tap from a penalty 10 metres out before bulldozing over two tacklers to score in the right corner. Ebersohn swings the conversion through the posts. |
41-19 |
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78 |
From an attacking ruck on the five metre line, Ben McCalman gets into first receiver and slices through for a try. Ebersohn misses the conversion. |
41-24 |
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FULL TIME |
41-24 |
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