RugbyWA Call of the Force -v- Bulls Match
For those that missed the broadcast and want a time line of how things happened, I have copied this from the RugbyWA home page. (Their live call is great for live call, but difficult to navigate post match)
Good job RugbyWA :approve:
From the RugbyWA website 17th Feb 2007
Emirates Western Force v Bulls, kickoff at 3.35am Saturday 17 February AWDT.
20 minutes to kick off in Pretoria, and in tonight's 'early' game the Stormers lead the Chiefs 21-16. Too right it's early; we've just ticked over to 3.15am here in WA.
The Emirates Western Force side is as per program. One change from last week - Scott Fava out, replaced by Matt Hodgson.
Stormers clinch their first win of the 2007 Investec Super 14, consigning the Chiefs to a third straight bonus point loss. 21-16 the final score at Newlands.
The 'highly efficient' Blue Bulls cheergirls are entertaining the crowd. I've never heard that description before.
Warm, clear conditions in Pretoria. A bit hot even says the commentator.
Here's comes Brendan Cannon, leading the side out in his 100th Super Rugby game. Congrats Canno.
Bulls to kick off. Mr Pollock is our referee
2nd min and Cam Shepherd is lining up the posts after Anton Leonard was offside at the ruck.
Shep slots it, 3-0 early on.
8 mins and the Bulls drive over from a 5m lineout. Pollock goes up to the TMO for help.
held up is the ruling. 5m scrum
Penalty to the Bulls 10m out and almost directly in front. Morne Steyn kicks the goal, 3-3.
12 mins and it's a penalty to the WA side after Henjak was taken out without the ball. Shep kicks ... and it's straight through the middle! 6-3 now.
A sprightly start to this one; there will be some tired boys at the end of this game (at altitude by the way)
Shep is lining up the goals again here in the 16th minute. He's about 49m out on an angle and he drags it left. That ends a run of nine consecutive goals over three games from the winger.
Steyn tries a long range drop goal, but it's well short. Both sides defending well here, ferocious stuff in tight.
Try to the Bulls scored by JP Nel in the right hand corner after some good driving work from the forwards. Steyn's conversion attempt is a beauty. 10-6 at Loftus
Sustained pressure from the home side here. The Bulls have had all the territory and possession in the last 10 minutes.
31 mins and it's deja vu here as JP Nel slides over for a Bulls try in the right hand corner. Steyn kicks another gem to make it 17-6.
possession is 62% to the Bulls with 2 mins to go in the first half
right on half time and Bulls blindside flanker Anton Leonard gets a yellow card for dangerous play at the breakdown. Matt Hodgson was lifted past the horizontal there. Shep is lining the sticks up, and he kicks the goal to make it 17-9
HALF TIME Emirates Western Force 9 Bulls 17
Teams coming back out onto Loftus Versfeld now. No changes to either side it would seem. Bulls will be without the sin-binned Leonard for the next 10 miinutes of course.
Bulls make a liar out of me as Wessel Roux replaces Gurthro Steenkamp in the front row.
Shepherd tries a drop goal from halfway... I think because his teammate is down injured as that was most audacious. It's Nathan Sharpe who is down, and somewhat in lala land. Luke Doherty is out there for the skipper, not sure if that's a blood replacement or not
Matt Hodgson comes very close - TMO says held up. 5m scrum to the boys from WA.
Staniforth goes close this time, but he's in touch just short. The Emirates Western Force getting up a head of steam here
46 mins - Shepherd looks to have scored in the left corner... yes he has! Try to the winger, and a superb conversion. Game On now at 17-16!
Sharpie back out there. Your scribe breathes a sigh of relief.
49 mins and Steyn opens the lead out to 4 with a penalty goal. 20-16 now.
53 mins and that man Leonard dots down for the Bulls right next to the posts. A try and a yellow mcard for the veteran with 27 mins still to play. Steyn converts, 27-16.
55 mins game on again!! Shepherd takes Drew Mitchell's offload, grubbers through and beats the defence to score the try! Shep converts from the sideline again - goalkicking from both sides has been sublime tonight - to make it 27-23.
Dave Pocock and Angus Scott are out there now. Hodgson and Takiari off.
Tai McIsaac out there for Canno with 20 mins to go
67 mins TRY to the big fella! Gareth Hardy scores after a 40m one-two with Dave Pusey. The prop running like a loosie there; absolutely brilliant. The boys in gold making the Bulls do a lot of tackling. Shep converts from the sideline - again - to make it 30-27
A few changes in the Bulls pack now. 10 mins to go
Dave Pusey knocks on at the half way line. That's the first one of the half for the WA side that I can remember.
Total possession now 56% to The Emirates Western Force. It was 38% at the half
Sharpie has just stolen Staniforth's shorts... I haven't seen that before
Five mins to go and the Bulls have a 5m lineout
Penalty to the Force for truck'n'trailer. Much needed relief for the away side...
FULL TIME Emirates Western Force 30 Bulls 27. What a super game of rugby that was; well worth the entry fee and then some! That's a huge win for the Emirates Western Force, who win both games on their South African journey. Cam Shepherd is surely Man of the Match after his 25 point haul, but he had plenty of mates in good touch. Giteau ran the show well, Hardy was terrific, the tight five did their work and the back rowers created plenty of headaches for the Bulls. The WA side are back at home next week to host the Lions on Saturday night and will again be looking for that elusive first ome victory. They won't be thinking aout that tonight though - I think they boys will want to celebrate Canno's 100th and the win for the time being.
