DEFIANT WESTERN FORCE EDGED OUT BY CHIEFS

Apr 24 • General News, Super Rugby • 1672 Views • Comments Off on DEFIANT WESTERN FORCE EDGED OUT BY CHIEFS

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The Western Force has fought back from a 22-point deficit to get to within striking distance of the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium tonight, before eventually succumbing 35-27 in a high-scoring encounter.

After being reduced to 14 men in the 29^th-minute following a red card to scrumhalf Ian Prior for a tip tackle on Tim Nanai-Williams, the Force courageously worked their way back from 30-8 down to get within eight points of the home side at the final whistle.

In a match that marked Pek Cowan’s 100^th Asteron Life Super Rugby match for the Western Force, both sides crossed for four tries apiece, with the boot of Chiefs flyhalf Marty McKenzie proving the difference with 15 points from the kicking tee.

Captain Matt Hodgson made a successful return to the Force line-up following a 12-week hamstring injury, immediately continuing on from his impressive 2014 form, including crossing for the side’s third try at the back of a rolling maul.

No.8 Ben McCalman and lock Steve Mafi continued to find ground for their side throughout the match, while Ryan Louwrens was strong in his Asteron Life Super Rugby debut, including breaking through the Chiefs’ line to set up Luke Morahan’s second half try.

The Force will now travel to Auckland to face the Blues on Saturday, 2 May.

Tickets to Western Force’s next home match against the NSW Waratahs on Saturday, 9 May are now available! Visit ticketmaster.com.au.

2015 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week 11
Friday, 24 April 2015 at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton	Kick-off: 7.35pm (local)/3.35pm (AWST)	Crowd: Not announced
Chiefs 35 (Charlie Ngatai, Hika Elliot, Tim Nanai-Williams tries, penalty try; Marty McKenzie 3/4 conversion, 3/3 penalty goals) defeated Western Force 27 (Angus Cottrell, Luke Morahan, Matt Hodgson, Heath Tessmann tries; Luke Burton 2/4 conversions, 1/1 penalty goals)
Half time: Chiefs 23-8
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Ian Prior (29 min)
Referee: Angus Gardner

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. Ian Prior, 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. Oliver Hoskins, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Kane Koteka, 21. Ryan Louwrens, 22. Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, 23. Marcel Brache.

Head Coach: Michael Foley

Chiefs

1. Mitchell Graham, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Matt Symons (c), 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Johan Bardoul, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Michael Leitch, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Marty McKenzie, 11. Tim Nanai-Williams, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Charlie Ngatai, 14. Bryce Heem, 15. Tom Marshall.

Reserves: 16. Quentin McDonald, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Ben Tameifuna, 19. Michael Fitzgerald, 20. Liam Squire, 21. Augustine Pulu, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Andrew Horrell.

Head Coach: Dave Rennie

BY THE CLOCK
Min		Score
7	The Force is penalised for leaving their feet at the ruck. Marty McKenzie kicks the penalty goal.	3-0
11	Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick penalised for dragging down Steve Mafi off the ball at the lineout. Luke Burton kicks the penalty.	3-3
15	The Force build pressure with continual phases through the Chiefs quarter. The Force then play through the hands across the right side with Angus Cottrell crashing over out wide. Burton’s conversion attempt hits the upright.	3-8
18	Nathan Charles is penalised for a high tackle on Brad Weber. McKenzie kicks the long-range penalty goal.	6-8
19	From 60 metres out Retallick, Tim Nanai-Williams and Weber combine to put Charlie Ngatai in under the posts. McKenzie converts.	13-8
25	Matt Hodgson penalised for not rolling away. McKenzie kicks the penalty goal.	16-8
29	Ian Prior is handed a red card for a tip tackle on Nanai-Williams.	16-8
39	After sustained pressure, Hika Elliot is at the ball of a driving maul to score under the posts. McKenzie adds the extras.	23-8
	HALF TIME	23-8
47	Referee Angus Gardner awards a penalty try to an advancing Chiefs scrum. McKenzie converts the try.	30-8
56	From a turnover, Ryan Louwrens breaks through before finding Kyle Godwin in support. Despite a desperate McKenzie tackle, Godwin is able to pop the ball to Luke Morahan to score in the corner. Burton adds the conversion from out wide.	30-15
62	Charlie Ngatai is offside from a Tom Marshall knock on. The Force wins the lineout five metres out before Matt Hodgson touches down at the back of the rolling maul to score. Burton converts from out wide.	30-22
66	Nanai-Williams beats four defenders down the left hand side to swan dive over for the try. McKenzie misses the conversion to the left.	35-22
77	The Force wins its lineout five metres from the try line. After three phases they swing back to the right hand edge with Heath Tessmann charging over in the corner for his maiden Asteron Life Super Rugby try. Burton’s conversion shaves the upright but just misses.	35-27
	FULL TIME	35-27