BRUMBIES TOO STRONG FOR FORCE IN PERTH

Jun 6 • General News, Super Rugby • 1347 Views • Comments Off on BRUMBIES TOO STRONG FOR FORCE IN PERTH

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Two late tries to the Western Force were not enough to overcome the ACT Brumbies in the Western Australian side’s final home match of the season at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) tonight, succumbing 33-20.

The Brumbies built momentum in the game through the strength of their rolling maul, with David Pocock scoring a hat-trick – carrying the ball to the line each time at the back of a maul.

Trailing 21-6 at the break, the Force crossed for two tries to Tetera Faulkner and Luke Morahan to get within striking distance at 33-20 with five minutes remaining,

Force flanker Angus Cottrell was at his abrasive best, tearing into the Brumbies runners in defence and earning himself the Haigh & Hastings Man of the Match. Flyhalf Zack Holmes was also busy for the home side, attacking the line and setting up the Force’s final try of the night for Morahan.

The Force will take on the Melbourne Rebels in its final match of the season at Melbourne’s IKON Park on Friday, 5 June.

WHAT THEY SAID…

Michael Foley, Western Force Head Coach

“The Brumbies are a tough side to play at any stage, particularly at this period of the season when they’re chasing finals. We’d identified a few things they were strong at like the maul, and that ended up being the point of difference in the game. I thought our guys were incredibly brave, we defended for long periods against a good attack and we showed some good signs with the ball, but ultimately the difference in the game was a very, very good maul.

“One of the hardest things in a season like this, particularly on the back of last year, it means a lot to us to play for people that do the right thing by us. We won six of our eight home games last year, this year we’ve only been able to win one – and it hurts the team. I’ve seen groups of people under less pressure fracture… but the team is tight, we’re still fighting and we want to play well next week.”

2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 17
Friday, 5 June 2015 at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium), Perth	Kick-off: 7pm	Crowd: 9,054
ACT Brumbies 33 (David Pocock 3, Christian Lealiifano, Allan Alaalatoa tries; Christian Lealiifano 4 conversions)defeated Western Force 20 (Luke Morahan, Tetera Faulkner tries; Zack Holmes 2 penalties, 2 conversions)
Half time: ACT Brumbies 21-6
Yellow Cards: Steve Mafi (28^th min)
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Angus Gardner

WESTERN FORCE

Western Force: 1. Pekahou Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Guy Millar, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Zack Holmes, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Marcel Brache, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Dane Haylett- Petty.

Reserves: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Chris Heiberg, 18. Tetera Faulkner, 19. Steve Mafi, 20. Kane Koteka, 21. Ryan Louwrens, 22. Luke Burton, 23. Patrick Dellit.

Head Coach: Michael Foley

ACT BRUMBIES

ACT Brumbies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. David Pocock, 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Nic White, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Joe Tomane, 12. Robbie Coleman, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Jesse Mogg.

Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rae, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Nigel Ah Wong, 23. James Dargaville.

Head Coach: Stephen Larkham

BY THE CLOCK
Min		Score
10	From a lineout five metres from the try line, flanker David Pocock touches down at the back of a rolling maul for the ACT Brumbies’ opening try. Christian Lealiifano converts.	0-7
15	Pocock is penalised for diving off his feet at the ruck. Zack Holmes kicks the penalty from 35 metres out.	3-7
16	The Brumbies are penalised at the breakdown, with Holmes adding his second penalty from 40 metres out.	6-7
18	After stringing several phases together in the Force’s 22m, Stephen Moore offloads to Lealiifano to dart down a short blindside to score. Lealiifano converts.	6-14
28	After a lineout five metres from the Force line, the Brumbies again form a rolling maul with Pocock controlling the ball at the back to score his second. In the process, Force lock Steve Mafi receives yellow card for illegal maul defence. Lealiifano converts.	6-21
	HALF TIME	6-21
58	From a penalty, the Brumbies win their lineout five metres from the line. Three phases later prop Allan Alaalatoa runs through a stretching defensive line to score under the posts. Lealiifano coverts.	6-28
66	From a lineout deep in the Force 22m, the Brumbies maul their way towards the line with Pocock trailing to fall over the try line for his third of the night.	6-33
71	After a lineout five metres from the Brumbies’ line, the Force pick-and-drive towards the centre of the field with Tetera Faulkner scoring under the posts – confirmed by TMO Ian Smith. Holmes converts.	13-33
75	Holmes breaks the Brumbies’ line down the left-hand-side and finds Luke Morahan in space who storms in to score. Holmes converts.	20-33
	FULL TIME	20-33