Western Force Down to Waratahs in Try-Fest, Miss Final

The Emirates Western Force have lost to the Waratahs in their Australian Provincial Championship clash in Bathurst, and missed out on hosting the competition’s final.

Despite the Emirates Western Force picking up a bonus point in the 41-to-33 loss, Queensland’s last kick of the game victory over the Brumbies means the Perth team finished third.

The Reds beat the Brumbies 20-to-19 at Ballymore, with Lloyd Johannson kicking a penalty on the siren. The two teams will meet again in the final next weekend in Canberra.

The six-to-five try scoreline in favour of the Waratahs reflected a tight battle, where the margin was within three points for most of the match.

Emirates Western Force fullback Scott Daruda scored the first try for the visitors, the second coming from scrum half, Matt Henjak, before half time.

In the second stanza, Tai McIsaac came off the bench to score his first five pointer for the ocean blue, while winger Cameron Shepherd scored two tries – the second in injury time.

Emirates Western Force APC coach John Mulvihill said his team turned over too much ball, particularly in the first half, and slipped off too many tackles.

He said the scrum was solid but execution in the line-out needed vast improvement.

“There were good patches of football but the trick is to string them together,” he said.

FINAL SCORE: EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE 33 WARATAHS 41

Half Time: Emirates Western Force 14 Waratahs 17

Emirates Western Force (Cameron Shepherd 2, Scott Daruda, Matt Henjak, Tai McIsaac tries; Scott Daruda 4 conv)