Woohoo
Woohoo
Wooohoooo
CHAMPIONS!!!
great crowd too!
How many does every reckon?
https://i.imgur.com/niQF2gM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kYdmZ11.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/L6P9Ntw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/l8Cbu6H.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mvAiEap.jpg
What a win! Crowd 3000 I reckon
Just watched th replay same fabulous result !
Fantastic commentary-“ here we are at McLibrary oval “— clearly never been in one
FANTASTIC FORCE CLAIMS NRC CROWN
The Western Force has won the 2019 National Rugby Championship title with a dominant 38-point victory over the Canberra Vikings, in front of a rapturous Sea of Blue home crowd.
A five try second half blitz was part of a 41-3 scoreline after Canberra opened proceedings.
In an error strewn first half the Force led 7-3, then the forward pack took total control at the restart and never let the opposition back in. The backrow led by Carlo Tizzano, Brynard Stander and Henry Stowers provided direction and structure to repeatedly break the Canberra defensive line.
Phil Waugh Man of the Match Medallist Fergus Lee-Warner started the scoring spree with a hard-running line off a Heath Tessmann break. The second rower’s ball carrying ability came to the fore as he consistently made ground in attack.
Force owner and Minderoo Foundation co-founder Andrew Forrest placed a $100,000 bounty on every Force try as part of the 2019 Telethon Kids Institute Appeal and his team ran up a $600,000 bill.
Captain Andrew Deegan described the victory as incredible.
“I am really proud of the boys including the blokes who came off the bench, I guess that whole second half we really took our opportunities, to score five or so tries was unreal,” Deegan said.
“To the Sea of Blue, we can’t thank them enough and obviously it builds great momentum for Global Rapid Rugby next year.”
After a tight error strewn first 17 minutes, the opening score came from Vikings scrum half Ryan Lonergan after the Force were penalized for holding on at the breakdown.
Fourteen minutes later, Tessmann opened the Force account from the back of a rolling maul after finally maintaining possession from the lineout.
Without club captain Darcy Swain and Wallaby Number 8 Rob Valetini heading into the game, the men from the nation’s capital were unable to gain a foothold against a yellow and black offensive surge.
Second half tries to Nick Jooste, Jeremy Thrush and a second to Heath Tessmann broke the game open for the Force.
The final nail in the coffin came off a cross field bomb from inspirational captain Deegan. The ball sat up perfectly for Jonah Placid and allowed the prolific winger to take his NRC leading try scoring tally to ten for the season.
Deegan slotted his fourth conversion of the day to inscribe a West Australian name on the NRC toast rack trophy for the second time in four years.
Phil Waugh Medallist: Fergus Lee-Warner
RetraVision Man of the Match: Nick Jooste
Western Force 41 – 3 Canberra Vikings
(Half time: Western Force 7 - 3 Canberra Vikings)
Western Force: 41
Tries: Tessmann 2, Lee-Warner, Jooste, Thrush, Placid
Cons: Deegan 4
Pens: Deegan
Canberra Vikings: 3
Pens: Lonergan
What dignitary presented the trophy?
Western Force blitz Vikings to claim NRC championship
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Saturday, 26 October 2019 4:17PM
Western Force produced a second-half blitz to demolish the Canberra Vikings and claim the National Rugby Championship at UWA Sports Park on Saturday.
The visitors could not contain the rampant Force who ran in six unanswered tries - five in a sensational second period - in the overwhelming 41-3 victory.
The minor premiers saved their best performance until last against a Vikings side with 15 Super contacted players, five of them Wallabies, in a sensational second half.
It was their most clinical performance of the season with two tries from hooker Heath Tessmann and one each from man-of-the-match Fergus Lee-Warner, Nick Jooste, former All Black Jeremy Thrush, and Jonah Placid who maintained his record of scoring in every game this season.
The Vikings opened the scoring with a penalty midway through the first half but that was a good as it good as the Force plundered the line.
Exhausted players were on their knees at the end but there was no dropping off in the last quarter, a curse that has struck the Force in the last two games.
Their scrum was totally dominant, setting a great platform for the backs.
And when the Vikings did get possession they were halted in their tracks by a massive Force defence.
Fergus Lee-Warner of the Force wins a line-out during the NRC final. Credit: Getty Images
Coach Tim Sampson said the second half was the best rugby his side played all season.
"In our pre-game meeting I said we had to go the whole game. And we did. Tactically we nailed it," Sampson said.
"We were pretty comfortable at half-time, they were pretty calm and composed which was a good sign.
"These sort of games, up front your set piece is going to win it, and also your defence. Gee whizz, both of those areas were outstanding
"To hold a quality team like that try-less in a grand final is a huge effort. It's a huge achievement.
"The best lies ahead for the Western Force.
"It is a slow build, 18 months ago was when a lot of us came together....really loving WA rugby at the moment.
"You need momentum and timing is crucial. You need luck along the way, you need bodies on the field.
"You look at the experience we don't have available: Ian Prior, Chris Alcock, Kieran Longbottom Johan Bardoul, Brad Lacey (all injured) our World Cup players that weren't around.
"It was a huge shift in terms of our squad for NRC - the academy guys that came in, the club players that stepped up. It was a huge effort.
"We've used our bench in every game which is the trust we have in the guys in the squad."
The Force win meant Telethon is $600,000 better off with mining magnate Andrew Forrest donating $100,000 for every Force try.
Surprised and pleased to see the NRC final on ABC news 24 just now!
Our biggest loss is Deegan. He has been outstanding for the Force in the showcases. I understand moving for opportunities, it's a case of Shame on you RA, not Deegan. All the best wishes for his future success, and thank you for your contribution, greatly appreciated.
Toast on rack
Attachment 5485
Toasting vessels
https://i.imgur.com/ezq5Rd4.jpg
Phil
Attachment 5484
The loot
https://i.imgur.com/JYo6C7S.jpg
This dude?
Attachment 5486
This dude?
Attachment 5486[/QUOTE]
is the trophy filled with helium?
(or just hot air from FURA)