Force -v- Toshiba (15JUL06)

[Darren]

This is the big one - Match of the day down at Palmyra home ground at Tompkins Park on Saturday the 15th of July with a 3:30pm Kickoff!

Get on down there and support the Force - its a free event and Palmyra are putting on a big show! Stay on after wards and watch the Wallabies take aparty the Springboks on the big screen in the clubs rooms. Stay tuned to TWF for more news real soon!

In the mean time - Place ya bets!

[Darren]

Force win 38 - nil!

[rick boyd]

You can have a copy of my report on the game, free of charge. It was a good game and great to see Henjak coming into form.

Western Force Gold defeated Japan's Toshiba Brave Lupus 38-0 at Tompkins Park, Melville, yesterday in an inspirational display of attacking rugby.

The six tries to none win reflected the home side's better use of opportunities. In general play Toshiba contested strongly in all facets and looked a polished, professional unit but failed to sustain their focus in loose play and counter attack, despite having five members of the national team on board.

Force Gold led 19-0 at half time with three tries, including two to man of the match half back Matt Henjak, who was in sparkling form after an indifferent first season in Western Australia.

The Toshiba team went on attack early and pressured Force Gold's line with phases of attack using slick back line moves and quick wrap-arounds. But when Toshiba fullback Matsuda Tsutomu failed to retrieve an attacking up and under, Force Gold broke free and flyhalf James Hilgendorf ran the ball downfield, handing on flanker Matt Hodgson and then to Henjak for an exciting and well-combined try after five minutes.

Force Gold stayed on attack for five minutes until handling errors allowed Toshiba to break out and take the game to Gold's 22, but lost wing Sione Kiulangai Kepu to the sin bin for striking Force centre Junior Pelesasa after 20 minutes.

The two teams were well matched and played high paced rugby with neither side dominating in general play until Force Gold caught Toshiba napping and broke wide after 30 minutes. Blindside flank Kiti Fuluna forged ahead out wide and passed in to wing Brett Stapleton who crossed the line untouched and came around to dot down closer to the posts. Fullback Ryan Lenegan converted the easy kick and Force Gold led 12-0.

Three minutes later Gold was back on the scoreboard after Toshiba made a mess of a penalty lineout and the Gold forwards kicked the ball through. Stapleton ran the ball up and wide and when Toshiba conceded a penalty ten metres out, Henjak tapped and nipped over for a try beside the posts. Lenegan converted the sitter for a 19-0 lead to the home side.

Toshiba finished the half pressuring the Force line but poor hands and rushed options cost them any result.

Toshiba opened the second spell strongly and trapped Force Gold in its 22 but five minutes in, Force Gold broke out and hammered Toshiba's line. Force Gold's ability to take quick ball off opposition errors and counter attack kept them on the front fooot.

Twelve minutes in right wing Garth Ziegler outflanked the defence from near half way and passed back in to Pelesasa for the final 15 metres and the try close to the posts. Lenegan converted the simple kick and Force Gold led 26-0.

Gold stayed on attack and after a series of rucks eighteen minutes in, Pelesasa strolled through milling defence from ten metres out to score, and Lenegan converted.

Three minutes later champion sprinter Stapleton dazzled the defence out wide to score from 30 metres out. Lenegan pushed the conversion wide but Force Gold was in charge at 38-0.

When Toshiba flyhalf Shimazaki Shogo caught an up and under and zipped down the sideline in attack, Toshiba enjoyed a rare taste of the Force 22 but Force Gold drove back and returned play to the other end of the park and kept the pressure on until full time.

[Darren]

Thanks for this Rick, never mind my lack of journalistic talent - esp in the arena of sports reporting - but I had my kids (2+4) with me and spent more time keeping them in line than watching football ....

[Burgs]

Thanks for that Rick!
Any chance of a bit more detailed appraisal on how the local lads went at this level?
I see a couple of mentions there in the build up to tries and Lenegan having the kicking duties.
Did they look out of place in terms of ability or are these fellas a chance of going on?

[rick boyd]

Always a bit difficult to answer that. Kiti Fuluna will always perform in any team, as he does for Wests and for Argonaut Gold -- how many blindside flankers can also play centre for first grade? He had a couple of trademark runs with the ball and he certainly looked like he belonged in this company, but he may be a bit light for the side of the scrum at this level.

Nedlands wing Garth Ziegler had a couple of good runs and like Kiti, set up a try so also looked in good company but Ryan Lenegan had a quiet game at fullback apart from his quality goal kicking.

The others came on off the bench and none of them stood out particularly except perhaps for Will Brock. This young fellow has a very bright future. Tim Davies, Ryan Tyrell and Tyler Edwards only had minutes to show their wares so it's hard to make any real comment.

[travelling_gerry]

Will Brock didnt look to happy coming off the field there.....any news on how bad his injury is?

[RugbyFan]

I spoke with him today, he dislocated his shoulder, xrays showed its back in properly, he's not sure how long he's out for but I'd say he'd be looking at around 6 weeks out of action. Lets hope it doesn't dampen his spirits.