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Sportal
The Western Force are still in the race for the Super 14 finals after an emphatic 45-17 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.
The Force controlled play from the outset to run in three first-half tries and hold a comprehensive 21-0 lead at the break.
A hiccup after half-time saw the Cheetahs back into the game with three tries, before the Force regained their composure to pile on four more tries and stay in the hunt for a semi-final spot.
The Force showed their intentions early by opting for attacking play and it eventually came to fruition in the 17th minute when playmaker Matt Giteau popped a one-handed offload to Ryan Cross, who sprinted 30 metres to score. Giteau converted from out wide for a 7-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, wing Scott Staniforth broke wide and fed Giteau, who took the ball up to 10 metres out. A width of the field sweep followed the ruck and Digby Ioane's angled run cut through poor defence and he was able to come around and dot down behind the posts. Giteau added the extras.
The Force continued to decline easy penalty goal chances to keep ball in hand and launch repeated phase attack. The Cheetahs defence scrambled continually spoiling ruck ball and eventually flanker Duayne Vermuelen was despatched to the sin bin.
From the penalty, the Force elected for a scrum in front of the posts, the ball went wide and Staniforth scored in the corner. Giteau converted from the sideline and the Force had a convincing 21-0 lead at half-time.
The Force seemed pre-occupied by a bonus-point fourth try after the break and the Cheetahs took advantage. Reserve winger Philip Burger scored in the corner from a simple overlap following a five-yard scrum.
The Cheetahs stayed on attack and from a penalty lineout the South African forwards mauled over the line for an easy try to van der Merwe. Willem De Waal converted from a moderate angle and suddenly the Cheetahs were back in the game at 21-12 after 54 minutes.
Stung into a flurry of action, the Force roared back in to life with Digby Ioane coming off his wing to cut through the midfield. Two phases later the ball came across the width of the field to find reserve prop AJ Whalley on the wing, and the big man steamed over for the try.
Three minutes later, fullback Drew Mitchell cut through the Cheetahs defence and sent the ball out to the left flank where hooker Tai McIsaac placed the ball over for a try and a decisive 33-12 lead.
The Cheetahs were down but not out and their heavyweight pack rumbled another unstoppable driving maul over in the corner where flanker Kabamba Floors claimed the five pointer. The conversion bounced off the posts with 15 minutes to play.
However, the Force finished strongly Matt Giteau working a dazzling run-around move to put Staniforth over in the corner for his second of the night.
Right on the final siren, a quick pass from the ruck on the blind sent Cross away for his brace. Giteau converted from the sideline for an impressive 45-17 win - the Force's highest in its short history.
Western Force 45
Tries: Staniforth 2, Cross 2, Ioane, Whalley, McIsaac,
Conversions: Giteau
Cheetahs 17
Tries: Burger, van der Merwe, Floors
Conversions: de Waal
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Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
Only disappointment was the news digby's going home.... 
oh yea, anyone know what happened to henjak?
Originally Posted by Thequeerone
Come to the dark side
