Force lose game but earn respect

[travelling_gerry]

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

[laura]

This is a good article by Dave. I'm glad he too found the positives of the match.

a side containing six players who had not experienced Super 14 before this season, including two teenagers

And now look what we have to look forward to next year! We definately had a diverse team last night!!

[shasta]

This is a good article by Dave. I'm glad he too found the positives of the match.

It is. I'm sure most of us would like to see the boys contesting the finals, but really I'm OK as long as they are having a go and are competitive. That injury toll would derail any team in the S14. A home semi when they do finally break through will be worth the wait.

Without remembering all the tries scored by the boys in 3 years, I think that try from Shep is probably the most brilliant individual effort so far.

[robyn <3]

really nice report... i agree, waiting for a home semi is ok... for NEXT SEASON!!!

[James]

We have games that will suit us better next year. A bye in mid-season plus 2 well spaced road trips (ACT-Chiefs-Crusaders and then Bulls-Stormers). As a team we know we can beat, and would be pretty confident against, every team we play at home. We just need to win a few away games and we'd be sorted.

[chook]

And sort out that awful home record too. It ain't no house of pain.

[James]

And sort out that awful home record too. It ain't no house of pain.

So what did we lose this year- against the Crusaders well yeah but so did everyone else pretty much and at least we put in a damn good fight. Against the Stormers. And against the Waratahs which was a tight match despite us losing out best player/playmaker within 20 minutes. Its not a great record but it isn't that bad. Against the teams we play next year we had 4 out of 7- including 2 one point losses- at home in 2007. And we beat all three of those teams we lost to away this year.

[shasta]

It ain't no house of pain.

Yes it is. The wooden seats are out of the 1950's. You need to book a chiropractor after a couple of hours in some of the plastic ones. You have a hard time getting a half-strength beer, then they close the bars straight after half time. But most painful of all, you need binoculars to watch the game.

Maybe we should campaign for a rectangular stadium.

[Burgs]

Without remembering all the tries scored by the boys in 3 years, I think that try from Shep is probably the most brilliant individual effort so far.

Gavin De Bartolo's would probably be a contender as well I'd reckon shasta.
Certainly was a great individual effort though and great strength to hold out an Openside with his more athletic frame.

[jono]

Yes it is. The wooden seats are out of the 1950's. You need to book a chiropractor after a couple of hours in some of the plastic ones. You have a hard time getting a half-strength beer, then they close the bars straight after half time. But most painful of all, you need binoculars to watch the game.

Maybe we should campaign for a rectangular stadium.

c'mon shasta. a warm, flat middie and a cold pie. that can only be called a perfect day!

[chook]

De Bartolo has some freakish skills sometimes, I agree Burgs. If only he were a little more consistent.

Force home record this season is sucky compared to the Tahs home record this season. I guess thats my point. It aint a house of pain. Its doubly a pain as it aint no house of pain if you take my meaning shasta...

[jargan83]

just touching on that stadium situation, the tahs get to train at Aussie stadium so they can get used to the wind etc inside the ground, as far as I know the Force do not get to train at Subiaco (correct me if i'm wrong)

Maybe RugbyWA should get onto the WAFC to get a training run at subi once a week???



Next year will be good, espeacially with the trips to Canberra and Sydney

[blurry91]

i think the Force train at Subi during Captain's Run

[jargan83]

i think the Force train at Subi during Captain's Run

fair cop then

Subi is still shit for Rugby

[Elf1]

Blurry91 Welcome to our little site. Nice to see new memebrs.
Cheers
Elf