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The new-look Emirates Western Force has put on a strong showing in their first trial match of the season, only to be narrowly beaten by the Brumbies, 20-18, at Marrara Rugby Park in Darwin tonight.
In their first outing since the off-season overhaul of the side, the Western Australians – boasting 13 new faces in their 31-man squad – had a last-minute opportunity to claim the win, only to see replacement inside centre Kyle Godwin’s long-range penalty attempt waved away.
The performance – led by lock Hugh McMeniman in his first match back from Japan – was a far cry from the 25-0 result in the corresponding match last year, with the Force clawing back from a 14-point quarter-time deficit to give themselves an opportunity to snatch the win at the death.
Emirates Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley said he was pleased with the development of his new side throughout the match.
“In the first 20 minutes the Brumbies looked like a side that had played together for 12 months and by the second 20 we were back into them, had more control of the game and were able to create some problems for them,” he said.
“When you go on the field against a well-groomed side like the Brumbies and they’re able to put you under pressure, we didn’t have combinations or the intuition that you have when you’ve played a lot of time together.
“However, that understanding was progressing in front of our eyes as the game was continuing. By the second quarter almost every aspect of our game was better than it was in the first 20. There was probably a lot of nerves and a lack of combination early but to see them improving within the first game – which can often take two or three games – is very pleasing.”
Emirates Western Force flyhalf Sias Ebersohn opened the scoring for the match when he booted an early penalty goal, only to have the Brumbies respond with a try to opposing playmaker Matt Toomua and conversion from Christian Lealiifano.
A Lealiifano penalty goal extended the ACT side’s lead to seven before ‘comeback kid’ Clyde Rathbone marked his return to rugby with a converted try just prior to the 20-minute break.
Trailing 17-3, the Emirates Western Force began the comeback when back-rower Ben McCalman crashed over from short range to score. Ebersohn added the extras for the Force before Lealiifano returned serve with another three-pointer to extend his side’s lead to 20-10 at half-time.
Soon after the break, Force scrumhalf Alby Mathewson worked his way over the try line, only to be denied by a desperate Brumbies defence, with Godwin adding the only points for the period through a penalty goal.
Needing to make up seven points in the final stanza, former Australian Sevens representative Junior Rasolea touched down in the corner to bring the Force to within two points, with Godwin’s last-ditch penalty attempt ending a promising performance from the Perth-based side.
The Emirates Western Force will tackle a Tongan Select XV next Friday (8 February) in Mandurah before kicking off the 2013 Super Rugby season against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday, 15 February.
2013 Super Rugby – Trial
Friday, 1 February 2013 at Marrara Rugby Park, Darwin
Brumbies 20 (Matt Toomua, Clyde Rathbone tries; Christian Lealiifano 2/2 conversions, 2/2 penalty goals; Zack Holmes 0/1 penalty goals) defeated Emirates Western Force 18 (Ben McCalman, Junior Rasolea tries; Sias Ebersohn 1/1 conversion, 1/1 penalty goals; Kyle Godwin 0/1 conversions, 1/2 penalty goals)
Emirates Western Force: Chris Alcock, Phoenix Battye, Corey Brown, Richard Brown, Nathan Charles, Sam Christie, Angus Cottrell, Pek Cowan, Pat Dellit, Sias Ebersohn, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Jayden Hayward, Matt Hodgson (c), Kieran Longbottom, Toby Lynn, Salesi Ma'afu, Alfie Mafi, Alby Mathewson, Lachlan McCaffrey, Ben McCalman, Hugh McMeniman, Junior Rasolea, Michael Snowden, Winston Stanley, Ed Stubbs, Heath Tessmann, Chris Tuatara-Morrison, Will Tupou, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
...so if Godwin kicked straight, the lads would have won, right? Did his kicks have a huge hook on them like when he was kicking for Straya U/20's?
Also, for anyone what was there (when you wake/sober up) how did Rathbone go?
Did Godwin play at 12 or 10 TG? How did he go?
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Godwin mostly at 12. But his kick was left of the poles with a tricky wind behind him.
Also with the almost trys from Alby and Alfie were could have won.
First 20 mins was crap but after that we looked good.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Had to laugh at the way the papers report that make it seem the Brumbies smashed the Force. Jake White stating that - ".....conditions in the second half went against his team.
‘‘It was pelting with rain and we were playing a lot in our half because of the weather, but all credit to them, the boys stuck it out,’’ White said.
Pocock said it was a bit weird to be playing his former teammates but the game was going too fast to pay attention to any niggling that may have gone on.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-unio...#ixzz2Jj9sXaKc
They just can't admit that the Force just may have won the game!!
From on the spot, my observations.
First 20 from the Force was crap as we hardly had any possession and the ref was all Brumbies way.
The scrum was penalised every time in the first quarter with decion could go either was but aleays went to the Brumbies.
McMeniman was outstanding. In fact the lock position will be hottly contested. When Battle and Sam Wykes were on we lost nothing. Wykes was very Sharpesque in his hit ups.
McCallman at 6 was solid. Brown at 8 was as well. And in the front row we lost nothing when Pek and Manu were rotated. Those positions will be hotly contested.
Cheese Charles got belted up a bit and consequently his throw ins at times were dodgy.
After the first quarter the backs seemed to gell a bit better and pulled some moves that were like "htf did that player come from there?".
Some players admitted they were as nervous as hell when they came on but will be better for the run.
We had some rain in the 3 or last quarter, it wasnt much, just a shower, only enough for me to get under cover so as not to wet the tablet I was doing the reporting on.
We had 2 very close to trys, in the second half, aftet an Alfie counter attack we were dragged down only 2 m out, and Alby was over the line only for a Brumbies player to drag the ball out of him hands while said Brumby was on knees.
Another attcking move when the Brumbie last defender dropped the ball, knocked it on 5 m was not picked up by the ref and they counter attacked.
Tjere should have been 2 more cards give to Brumbies but no.
Sam Wykes seemed to be captain when Hodgo was off.
We seemed to win the fights tho that might have been what got Cheese all groggy.
Taling to players after the game, Hodgo was happy for a first outing and seein the Brumbies had as fairly settled team from last year and had played a full game last week.
One player who was from another team last year said he was keen to get back to nib so he could chuckle when he hears over the PA the song "you cant always get what you want" after a missed kick. He said he had to not smirk when he heard it against his own team.
Alcock very happy to be in Perth and loving it.
Corey Brown, real nice kid and very polite.
Most of the team came over to us and thanked us very much for the support and for travelling to Darwin.
Thats all my beer soaked brain can remember.
The question is-are we worth a decent sized punt at 3:1 against the Rebels?
Hell yeah, cus you wont get that with the vBookie
ABC news Darwin and obvious Brumbies supporters video clip.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-0...?section=sport
Pretty sure Corey Brown is aboriginal. Be great to have more aboriginal role models in rugby union.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Glad you've changed your avi TG - seeing you as a woman was starting to freak me out!! Lol![]()
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
It was a honey badger t shirt!