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Force lose game but earn respect
9th May 2008, 18:00 WST
The Western Force earned respect if no points in their 21-10 loss to the Hurricanes in last night’s Super 14 match.
The third-placed Hurricanes stayed on for the finals with their two tries to one win but the four-try bonus point they were seeking disappeared under a wave of hard-tackling Force players.
The injury ravaged Force arrived at Westpac Stadium on a wet night with a patchwork side containing six players who had not experienced Super 14 before this season, including two teenagers, but frustrated the Canes with their desperate defence.
An Andrew Hore try and a Piri Weepu penalty earned the Hurricanes a 10-3 lead at half time and they struggled to add to their tally until Force flanker David Pocock was sinbinned with 15 minutes left.
The home team scored eight points in his absence to put the result beyond doubt, with winger Hosea Gear scoring his side’s second try.
Despite massive territorial superiority, the Hurricanes could not breach the Force defence again and the only score thereafter was the result of a spectacular piece of opportunism from Force full-back Cameron Shepherd.
He took a quick free kick, chipped over the defence and hoofed the ball ahead to win the race to the touch down to make the final score 21-10.
The Force play their final match of the regular season against the Brumbies at Subiaco Oval next Friday.
DAVE HUGHES
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ontentID=72301