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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.
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Originally Posted by bunter
