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Three tries to winger Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins has extended the Western Force’s winning streak to five matches following the 28-16 win over the Waratahs at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) tonight.
In front of a roaring 14,281-strong ‘Sea of Blue’, the home side built the win on a rock wall defensive line with Cummins capitalising on the limited possession the Force received during the match.
Starved of possession throughout the first term, the Force held a narrow 13-9 lead at the break, with Cummins crossing for two of his three tries in the second half to extend the final margin to 12 points.
The win lengthens the Force’s most consecutive wins in the club’s history (5) and resulted in the club’s first victory over the Waratahs in Perth.
Western Force Head Coach Michael Foley said his team was “phenomenal” and “showed a lot of character” in its ability to turn around the 43-21 loss in their opening round match against the Waratahs.
“I think the thing we learned over the first two games – and we had it reiterated to us when [former West Coast Eagles coach] John Worsfold came and spoke to us before the Highlanders game – was momentum won’t always be your way but you have to hold each other accountable at those times so you can capitalise on it when it does come your way.
“We lived on the sniff of an oily rag to some extent tonight and when the opportunities came we pounced on them and that was a real credit to our guys. They kept trying even though things weren’t coming our way and they showed a lot of character.
“What is being reinforced every week is the more effort we put into those sorts of games, the better results we’re getting. If you go back and look at the last five games, we found different ways to get results and that’s important for us.”
The massive NSW pack ensured the Waratahs started well, getting across the gain line and giving them momentum with Kurtley Beale adding two early penalties for a 6-0 lead.
While Sias Ebersohn piloted home a penalty attempt with one of the Force’s rare forays into the Waratahs’ half, it was Cummins who brought the crowd to its feet when he intercepted a Nick Phipps ball on the Western Australian goal line – after six minutes of sustained NSW pressure – to race the length of the field and touch down under the posts.
Ebersohn added the conversion and a late penalty goal, with Bernard Foley adding a NSW penalty goal of his own, allowing the Force to go to the break with a 13-9 lead.
The visitors started the second half with momentum – just as they’d begun the first, with winger Cam Crawford seemingly crossing for the Tahs’ first try after six minutes, only to be called back after the TMO deemed Force scrumhalf Alby Mathewson was impeded in his attempt to tackle Crawford.
Mathewson led the response four minutes later when he found space around the ruck at the 40-metre mark, and linked with a flying Cummins, who crossed in the corner for his second and an 18-9 lead.
Eleven minutes later Cummins added his third when he swooped on a loose Waratahs pass to race three-quarters of the field and slipped out of tackles from Crawford and Jono Lance to score. Ebersohn added the sideline conversion to give his side a 25-9 lead.
Not to be outdone, Beale crossed for the Tahs’ first try of the evening when he found space down the left-hand side to cross in the corner.
While Bernard Foley also landed the sideline conversion attempt, a late Ebersohn penalty put the result beyond doubt and allowed the Force to take the 12-point win.
The Force travels to Melbourne next week to take on the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Good Friday (18 April).
2014 Asteron Life Super Rugby – Week Nine
Saturday, 12 April 2014 at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium), Perth
Kick-off: 5.40pm
Western Force 28 (Nick Cummins 3 tries; Sias Ebersohn 2/3 conversion, 3/3 penalties) defeated NSW Waratahs 16 (Kurtley Beale tries; Bernard Foley 1/1 conversions, 1/1 penalty; Kurtley Beale 2/3 penalties).
Western Force:
1. Pek Cowan, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. Matt Hodgson (c), 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 11. Nick Cummins, 12. Kyle Godwin, 13. Marcel Brache, 14. Luke Morahan, 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Res: 16. Heath Tessmann, 17. Tetera Faulkner, 18. Ollie Hoskins, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Brynard Stander, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Zack Holmes, 23. Chris Tuatara-Morrison.
Coach: Michael Foley
NSW Waratahs:
1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4.Will Skelton, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Jacques Potgieter, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Dave Dennis (c), 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Cam Crawford, 15. Jono Lance. Res: 16. Tolu Latu, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Tala Gray, 20. Stephen Hoiles, 21. Pat McCutcheon, 22. Brendan McKibbin, 23. Matt Carraro.
Coach: Michael Cheika
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Referee: Angus Gardner
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Originally Posted by Jules
