Stormers v Force

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Your DJ mate knows diddly squat about rugby, but a plug is a plug

[shasta]

[QUOTE=travelling_gerry]I didnt sound too pissed????QUOTE]

You don't type too pissed Gerry. And that's not bad at twenty past 3 on a truly great Saturday morning

[Burgs]

Force win 'scrappy' first match

c/o Fox Sports
February 10, 2007

LEAGUE convert Ryan Cross scored his first Super 14 rugby try and winger Cameron Shepherd was perfect with the boot, as Western Force notched a 22-3 win over the Stormers in the wet in Cape Town.

Centre Cross grabbed the only try of the game in the 34th minute, when he charged down an attempted clearance kick from Stormers fullback Gio Aplon close to the home team's line and won the chase to the loose ball.

Wallaby back Shepherd converted his five penalty attempts to seal the Force's second and biggest Super rugby win in the club's short history.

The Force's only other victory was a 16-14 win over the Cheetah's in the penultimate round of last year's competition.

The Western Australian side led 13-0 at the break and maintained a double digit advantage throughout the second half as the rain intensified.

Five-eighth Naas Olivier got the Stormers on the board with the first points of the second half from a 47th minute penalty, but the 10-point gap was as close as the home side got as Shepherd made the home team pay for indiscretions by banging over three more penalties.

The Force forwards competed tenaciously in rainy conditions in which both teams made a number of errors, skipper Nathan Sharpe leading the way with man of the match honours.

"It wasn't pretty but the most pleasing thing about that is the guys really played for each other tonight," said Sharpe.

"We had a pretty wet and scrappy old night, but the guys played well and stuck to the game plan we implemented when we knew it was going to rain.

"I think it's a huge (victory) for us and a bit of momentum to build now ... we are ecstatic with that and are ready take it up to the Bulls next week."

Halves Matt Henjak and Matt Giteau kept the visitors going forward with some smart options and clean hands in the testing conditions.

It was Giteau's deep accurate grubber kick which forced the try, as Aplon opted to try and kick the ball out rather than carry it into touch as several defenders applied pressure.

AAP

[shasta]

Force win 'scrappy' first match

c/o Fox Sports
February 10, 2007


AAP

A great win on the road. Really makes last week look like the one that got away. Just hope it doesn't cost us too much around May.

[Darren]

You Bloody Beauty!

Nice work with the coverage again, Burgs

[frontrow]

Felt like i was there thanks to burgs coverage, well done all round, and a special mention to me ol' mate Gerry on getting on 6pr and plugging the site, well done mate...

[Darren]

I knew I should have recorded 6PR ...

[Thequeerone]

WE WON

WE WON

WE WON

WE WON

WE WON

We figured the man of the match prize of 5000 rand was worth $900 - guess the frist round is on Sharpie - wonder if they have stopped partying yet

: :

[inactive]

Forgot we played oops is that bad but its a great way to start day!!!!! GO THE FORCE!!!

[travelling_gerry]

main game...................you forgot????????????????????????????????


ummmmahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[inactive]

well i got to bed at two after work woke up 11 this morn yeste i knew it was being played but this morn kinda forgot!! Its the bad sleep pattern i swear!

[Jess]

I still don't like this 'scrappy' business. In comparison to last week i thought they showed so much courage and conviction as a team... not just individual talent. It was pouring down with rain too and so i think given the circumstances... they played brilliantly!

Maybe the play was overly scrappy in the 15 mins we all missed because of a major Fox mishap...

[inactive]

i must say spanner is going to get wasted on wing...he is getting no ball and if he isnt he has no chance of making WC squad but i am HAPPY WE WON!!!

[travelling_gerry]

he involved himself pretty well......dropped back to fullback on occasions when mitchell was following up kicks or going on runs......

in the first half most of the play was on the other side to him anyway..

[Jess]

He was a bit quiet last night... I agree... being wasted. And sheps is wasted on the wing too.