Western Force Win Tour Opener Against Lions

The Emirates Western Force has continued its impressive form to record back to back victories with a 33-12 result over the Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

It was the club’s fourth win in their past five matches and again the boot of David Hill played a major part. The experienced flyhalf was outstanding as he plundered 23 points, including four penalty goals, three conversions and a try.

Coach John Mitchell was rightly pleased with the attitude his players showed throughout the tough encounter with Mark Bartholomeusz and Scott Staniforth also adding tries for the West Australian side.

“Difficult assignment, job done, good team effort,” a matter of fact Mitchell said after the game.

“It was a great attitude in defence and I thought our carry also became better in the second half, they were two really outstanding aspects of our performance.”

Hill got the visitors off to a flying start with two penalty goals within four minutes and the scoreboard continued to tick over for both sides as they made the most of penalties within kicking range.

With the scores tied at 12-all nearing half time the Force broke through for the first try of the match. A great break down the middle from Bartholomeusz gained plenty of meters for the visitors and Staniforth was able to cross untouched after a patient set-up and a terrific final pass from youngster Mitch Inman put him in the clear.

A seven point margin at the half was extended when Hill crossed, and when Bartholomeusz added a third try the points were secure for the Force.

Emirates Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe was happy with his team's performance and has laid down the challenge of upping the output when the face the Cheetahs next Saturday night.

"I'm very happy with that. We started well with some good intensity but in the second part of the first half we fell away and let them back into the game a little bit. In the second half we stuck to our structures and got some reward for it," Sharpe said.

"The Lions have scored a lot of tries this year and put a lot of points against teams, so we were happy to hold them tryless.

"We’ll enjoy this win but quickly look to next week’s challenge against the Cheetahs. They’ve shown some good form and it’ll be another tough game but we’re focused on what we want to achieve on this tour and are looking forward to the next match,” said Sharpe.

BY THE CLOCK
2nd min: Penalty goal for the Emirates Western Force by David Hill 0-3
4th min: Penalty goal for the Emirates Western Force by David Hill 0-6
10th min: Penalty goal for the Lions to Herkie Kruger 3-6
15th min: Penalty goal for the Emirates Western Force to David Hill 3-9
19th min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force by David Hill 3-12
24th min: Penalty goal for the Lions to Herkie Kruger 6-12
29th min: Penalty goal for the Lions to Herkie Kruger 9-12
30th min: Emirates Western Force player Matt Hodgson yellow card
33rd min: Penalty goal for the Lions to Herkie Kruger 12-12
36th min: Lions player Wikus van Heerden yellow card
40th min: Try for the Emirates Western Force to Scott Staniforth. Conversion by Hill 12-19

HALF TIME: Lions 12 – 19 Emirates Western Force

48th min: Ben McCalman replaces Sam Wykes and Nathan Charles replaces Ben Whittaker for the Emirates Western Force.
55th min: Justin Turner replaces Brett Sheehan for the Emirates Western Force.
58th min: Try for the Emirates Western Force to David Hill. Conversion by Hill 12-26
60th min: Kieran Longbottom replaces Pek Cowan and Sam Harris replaces Mitch Inman for the Emirates Western Force.
68th min: Pek Cowan replaces Matt Dunning for the Emirates Western Force.
72nd min: Tom Hockings replaces Richard Brown for the Emirates Western Force.
74th min: Try for the Emirates Western Force to Mark Bartholomeusz. Conversion by Hill 12-33

FULL TIME: Lions 12 – 33 Emirates Western Force

Lions 12 (Kruger 4/4 pen)
Emirates Western Force 33 (Staniforth, Hill, Bartholomeusz tries; Hill 3/3 con; Hill 4/4 pen, Sheehan 0/1 pen)