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A pretty generous rap from Jenkins!
from Fox Sports
By Peter Jenkins
January 23, 2006
PERTH gave birth to an Australian sporting giant on Saturday night - and more than 17,000 witnessed the long-awaited delivery.
Western Force, the fourth domestic franchise and created specifically for a new-look Super 14 series, made its debut on the rugby landscape with a trial against South African side The Cheetahs.
For the record, the visitors won 29-19 at Subiaco.
But with Force missing 10 marquee players and fielding 19 who have never played at the provincial level, the success of the Perth team was mirrored not on the scoreboard but at the turnstiles.
"These were spectators who waited a long time for this moment," Force chief executive Peter O'Meara said.
"We were really pleased with that crowd figure (of 17,050). Obviously, it's early days but there's tremendous support for what we've been doing.
"The community has really got behind us."
Force already has a membership base of more than 20,000, superior numbers to New South Wales Waratahs, Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies.
It is already guaranteed, through members and pre-sold tickets, a crowd of 31,000 for its opening competition match against the Brumbies on February 10.
O'Meara is confident that game, and later fixtures against NSW and Canterbury Crusaders, will end up drawing sellout attendances of 42,000.
"We haven't started our advertising campaign yet," O'Meara added.
Force hits the paid publicity trail from tomorrow, with one slogan that reads: "Try it once and you're hooked."
It seems thousands already are.
The Daily Telegraph