Force Still Unbeaten against Cheetahs

A 16-10 triumph over the Cheetahs has given the Emirates Western Force their first win in the 2009 Investec Super 14 at Subiaco Oval in Perth tonight.

Each side scored one try, with the boot of Matt Giteau proving to be the difference in a dour, defensive struggle. The result makes it four straight victories over the team from Bloemfontein, three by six points or less.

After Giteau opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty, the Cheetahs dominated the next 15 minutes and were twice denied tries by the TMO, first for being short of the line and a second time for a knock-on.

It was the home side which scored next, when 18 year-old centre James O’Connor stepped his way through the defence to dot down next to the posts. Giteau’s straightforward conversion made the score 10-0 seven minutes before half time.

The Cheetahs hit back five minutes later, when Fabian Julies put a grubber kick through for fellow winger Danwel Demas. Demas cleverly toed ahead, and beat Ryan Cross to the line. Jacques-Louis Potgieter cut the margin to three with the conversion.

A penalty goal from Giteau in the dying seconds of the half sent the WA side to the sheds ahead by the score of 13-7.

Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez was issued a yellow card by referee James Leckie for repeat infringements at the breakdown, and Giteau took advantage of the extra man by slotting a drop goal to take the lead out to nine points.

Potgieter again reduced the margin when he slotted a 45m penalty with twenty minutes to go, but the final stages of the game saw no further addition to the score, giving the Emirates Western Force a 16-10 victory

The Emirates Western Force will now travel to Canberra to play the Brumbies on Saturday 28 February.

6th Min: Penalty missed by Giteau

9th Min: Penalty to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Matt Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 3-0.

32nd Min: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by James O’Connor. Converted by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 10-0.

37th Min: Try to the Cheetahs scored by Danwel Demas. Converted by Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Emirates Western Force lead 10-7.

40th Min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 13-7

HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 13 Cheetahs 7

45th Min: Yellow card to Wian du Preez of the Cheetahs.

46th Min: Drop Goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 16-7.

53rd Min: Emirates Western Force – Matt Hodgson replaces Tamaiti Horua.

54th Min: Emirates Western Force – Luke Holmes replaces Tai McIsaac, Josh Tatupu replaces James O’Connor.

57th Min: Emirates Western Force – Kieran Longbottom replaces Gareth Hardy.

62nd Min: Penalty goal to the Cheetahs kicked by Potgieter. Emirates Western Force lead 16-10.

65th Min: Emirates Western Force – Tom Hockings replaces Pat O’Connor.

68th Min: Emirates Western Force – Scott Staniforth replaces Nick Cummins

74th Min: Emirates Western Force – Chris O’Young replaces Josh Valentine.

FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 16 Cheetahs 10

Emirates Western Force 16 (J O’Connor try; Giteau 2 pens, con, drop goal).

Cheetahs 10 (Demas try; Potgieter pen, con).

That was the first game I've been to where the Force have actually won. Shame it was so scrappy.

Heard someone on the train tonight say an ugly win is better that a pretty loss... had to agree

Force win a dull affair

The first half was especially lack-lustre (scores aside).

Oh, well. I suppose that's what the bar is for.

(Ugly wins are fine, but why can't we win pretty?)

Sure was an ugly win but we won. I was worried when Gits was going for the penatalty with 10 mins to go as that would have put us on the dreaded n-n-n-n-n-nineteen!
But thank God for JOC.
JOC be nimble,
JOC be quick,
JOC went over the line damn quick!