Queensland overwhelms Western Force
Jim Morton

April 18, 2008 08:38pm

SPOILERS Queensland have left Western Force's Super 14 finals hopes hanging by a thread with a big victory - their first over an Australian opponent in two years.

The Reds pack paved the way for the 29-12 upset, the Force's biggest loss this season, setting up camp in the visitors' quarter for virtually the entire second half at Suncorp Stadium.

The wavering Force now sit seventh in the competition and will slip back down the table further after next weekend's bye.

Not since Queensland beat the westerners in the corresponding fixture in 2006 have the Reds triumphed over an interstate rival.

Coach Phil Mooney had asked his battlers to become the spoilers of the Super 14 after being knocked out of finals contention during a fruitless tour of South Africa and they responded to a man.

The execution was scrappy but they were far more enthusiastic and committed than the off-key visitors.

The Force set a poor tone from the kick-off, a scrappy pass from Chris O'Young resulting in a skewed clearance kick by Drew Mitchell for a Reds lineout on the tryline.

Referee Stu Dickinson awarded the driving maul try to powerhouse No.8 Leroy Houston after the television match official had several looks at the replay and found no reason to deny the five-pointer.

The visitors enjoyed 66 per cent of the possession in the opening half and fullback Cameron Shepherd tore the defence to ribbons with each touch but they could only close the gap to 13-12 at half-time through Shepherd's radar-like boot.

``We went into half-time feeling they couldn't score a try with the mountain of possession they had and that boosted our confidence,'' Mooney said.

``I don't think we've been given the respect we deserve.''

Mooney's comment came after former Red Drew Mitchell boldly hinted his old team was only capable of ``15 minutes of macho bravado''.

With the Reds scrum demolishing the Force pack, Queensland then shut them out in the second half as they enjoyed three-quarters of territory and the ball.

Tries to seasoned imports Morgan Turinui, enjoying his best game in the Reds jersey, and Andrew Walker, his 32nd in Super rugby, were the icing on the cake in the second half.

Fuming Force skipper Nathan Sharpe didn't mince words after the game.

``It was a terrible performance by our boys but we have to give credit to Queensland, they contested the breakdown much harder,'' he said.

``That was our worst performance of the year no doubt.

`There was no excuse, we just didn't turn up mentally.''

The Reds scored the only try of the first half in the first minute but could have enjoyed a bigger lead after bombing two gilt-edged opportunities just before the break.

While the visitors had more possession, the Reds had the better opportunities and would still have been pleased with the one-point lead after having fullback Clinton Schifcofske controversially sin-binned in the 19th minute when they led 10-6.

The Reds were able to hold the Force to a penalty goal and then Berrick Barnes kicked one of their own to keep the advantage.


I didn't really want to post this article but there are a few good points and positives from the game ie. Sheps' first half!