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The Western Force have crashed to yet another heartbreaking loss at nib Stadium, a bonus point for the one point loss (26-25) little consolation for their efforts.
The Force started the game strongly, withstanding some early aerial pressure on David Smith, and coming straight into the attack with a Gene Fairbanks break. O’Connor’s normally unerring boot failed to convert an ensuing penalty, however rapturous applause was soon to sound out at nib Stadium with a Sam Wykes 5-pointer. Nathan Charles made the most of a Force break to gallop within inches of the Rebels line and all Wykes had to do is reach out and take the ball the final metre for a brilliant Force try. O’Connor converted to bring the score out to 7-0.
The Force fans were out of their seats again moments later when another Force raid saw Charles cross for a classic moment of chalk and Cheese. 12-0.
Cipriani had the Rebels on the scoreboard in the 14th minute with a long-range penalty. 12-3. Cipriani was very lucky not to earn himself a yellow card after a very cynical block on David Smith in the Rebel’s red zone. O’Connor booted the penalty for the offence to take the score out to 15-3.
The Force failed to maintain their intensity and allowed Gerrard to cross for the Rebel’s first try of the night. 15-8. Like Cipriani, Gerrard quickly went from hero to villain with a head high tackle earning himself a yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin. Much to the disappointment of the home side, the Force couldn’t capitalize on their man advantage with errors allowing Cipriani a further 2 penalties. It could have been worse for the Force, however, with some excellent defence and good discipline holding the Rebels out for phase upon phase. The Force entering half time with a 15-14 lead.
Both sides came out of the half-time break desperate to assert themselves and takes control of the scoreboard. For all of the rabid scrambling, it took 5 minutes for points to be scored; the Force extending their lead to 4 points with an O’Connor penalty.
From this point, however, the Force yet again became their own worst enemy. Poor handling and a few dodgy decisions saw them squander opportunity after opportunity. Case and point was a long looping pass intercepted by Hugh Pyle for a breakaway Rebels try under the posts. Things went from bad to worse here as Cipriani exploited an amateur concentration lapse to put in a cross-field kick to an unmarked Richard Kingi. Kingi’s try took the Rebels out to a 26-18 lead with 23 minutes to play.
The Force started their comeback only to be let down by handling errors; clearly under pressure from a committed Rebels defence. The Force eventually broke through, however, with Rory Sidey earning his first try for the Force. James O’Connor’s conversion gave the home side hope, the Rebels now leading by only 1 point. The Force looked good to add more to the scoreboard a few minutes later, however when the Rebels infringed metres out from their try line the Force opted for a penalty. O’Connor’s potentially match-winning attempt missing.
The last hope the Force had came from a 77th minute line-out at halfway but alas the side simply couldn’t bust through the Rebels line. The 80 minute hooter sounding heartbreak for the home side.
More to follow.
Note to TWF fans: Put down the gun, knife, or [Insert other lethal weapon here]. Things can only get better.
Last edited by James; 02-04-11 at 21:00.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Piss poor.
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I want my money back
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Not a ideal result.
Hope hodgo isnt too badly injured.
Who is our attack coach again?
lethargic from most of the forwards except Wykes.. backs tried hard tonight, Smith, Oconnor, Sheps and Fairbanks in particular..
MOM for the Force was Wykes, he was far better than Sharpie tonight..
disappointed
Crap rugby from the Force, very poor individual and team skills.
They bring these guys in to give them some badly needed backs, then don't give them the ball unless they are under pressure.
Glad I didn't pay to go and see this rubbish.
Looks like this season will be like the last one.
sigh... always a few that feel that way.. cant say i do , disappointed yes.. but not ever going to say they are not worth my support...
They will always have my support. But at home I can save myself over $400 a year. And turn it off when shit like that happens. Without a long arse train ride home...
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What the *#$@.
*#$%@#$*@!
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Success is not final, failure is not fatal:
it is the courage to continue that counts.
- Winston Churchill
Garbage. Utter garbage
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New chairman Perry and CEO Reid need to fire up and have a serious talk to coaching staff about instilling some spine and skill into certain Force players or in a couple of years nib Stadium will be less full for Force matches than for the new rugby league team. The threat is looming. If the Force administrators (and the ARU aren't blameless here with their reluctance to contract key Force players) don't take action, we might as well change the team name to the Baby Dockers and hope for one good year in 20.
Tonight was rubbish, with the Force averaging one turnover every two minutes they were in possession. Cipriani's chip kick to Kingi for the key try was brilliant opportunism, yes, but absolutely dopey from the Force. The time between the opening whistle and final siren is no time to grab a nap, boys.
You can see hacks playing like millionaires at Burswood Casino any night of the week for free without forking out for a Force season ticket (think the pass which led to the Rebels intercept try). No patience on attack, too many mistakes, players with hands of iron, more stolen ball at the base of the ruck, another groundhog night for Force fans.
And don't blame the ref. Yes, he should have yellow carded Cipriani for the obvious professional foul in the first half but he squared it up by marching Gerrard for what the big screen showed was a legal tackle. No matter, with 14 men Melbourne outscored us by three. 2007 was a decent season. Since then, same old same old (apart from our coach now having hair).
We need to learn to put the boot down on the oppositions neck when we are in front and play smart relentless rugby. We are quickly developing into a team of chokers unfortunately.It does my head in when we can be so good then start faffing around then all the schoolyard mistakes come into play.We suffer the AFL equivalent of the Colliwobbles.
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
woeful....seriously woeful ......