0
THE Western Force face a mammoth uphill battle to qualify for the Super 14 finals after last night's 22-10 loss to the Sharks at Subiaco.
The Force may have abandoned their ocean-blue jumpers for pretty pink ones to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA and they may have shed a few old habits but they could not get the much needed win.
And with the bye next week the Force is likely to slip further down a clogged ladder.
Form, like their results, has been inconsistent and while in spells it was a more assured Force performance than some of recent times it is what the scoreboard says at the end of 80 minutes that matters.
Coach John Mitchell said his side would play an expansive game and they certainly tried with a willingness.
With the likes of Matt Giteau and James O'Connor around, there was always likely to be a few heart stopping moments.
There was an improved toughness in the centres with Ryan Cross and Junior Pelesasa and with a couple of hard nosed forwards like Nathan Sharpe, Tai McIsaac and Ben Castle, collectively the Force tackled harder and made fewer mistakes.
But all that counts for nothing when a team with the experience and confidence of the Durban-based Sharks is allowed into the game.
It was breakouts from two rucks that brought about the heartbreaking moments that effectively seal the defeat.
Within two minutes of the second half re-start the Sharks went 80 metres, with speedster JP Pietersen touching down.
But the crowd was rightly furious because referee Bryce Lawrence allowed John Smit to jump all over Force halfback Josh Valentine for an illegal turnover.
However, there was nothing illegal about the snaffle at the ruck that led to the second breakaway try from Odwa Ndungane after an hour's play. Rory Kockott converted.
A high tackle on O'Connor had brought an early reward for the Force with Giteau slotting a penalty from in front of the posts.
On the half hour Steyn slotted a drop goal from 25 metres and that was it for the first half as far as the scorers were concerned.
Kockott stretched the Sharks lead with 15 minutes to go for his sides third try before converting his own try.
Scott Staniforth, in his first start for 11 months, grabbed one back with nine minutes left and Giteau converted to give the Force a sniff. But that's all it was - a sniff.
Mitchell said despite the loss, he was pleased with his side's showing.
"The effort was huge," he said. "We had them in all sorts of trouble in that first half.
"It's unfortunate that the team that plays all the football doesn't win the football match
"That's the hardest thing to swallow.
"There were some fantastic positves tonight
"They (the Sharks) were on the ropes. They scrambled and hung on.
"It was pretty brutal. The guys gave it a good crack."
Sharpe said despite playing well, the loss would result in some tough times for the Force.
"In the first half I thought it was a matter of time before the scoreboard opened up on us but to their (Sharks) credit they scrambled well," he said.
"In parts that was some of the best football we've played all year.
"It was disappointing.
" We played some good football tonight and we did throw a hell of a lot of pressure at them.
"Unfortunately we just made too many mistakes at crucial times, especially when we had them on the back foot.
"They had a couple of opportunities and went the length of the field.
"I think we played well in the first half. We didn't capitalise on the presuure in the second half."
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Burgs
Supporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
