Force Beaten Black and Blue in Brissie
The Emirates Western Force were unable to claim the club’s first win in Brisbane after today’s loss to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in week five of the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14.
A brilliant first half display from the home side, which saw five tries scored, opened up what turned out to be a match winning 36-3 lead. The second half was a more even contest, with the Reds scoring two converted tries to one to finish 50-10 victors.
The home side opened the scoring when centre Anthony Faingaa slipped through a tackle to score from five metres out.
Only minutes later the Reds were in again when winger Luke Morahan finished a wonderful sweeping movement, which involved at least six sets of hands, to open a 12-0 lead.
The Force got on the scoreboard for the first time through a James O’Connor penalty goal to make the score 12-3.
A brilliant Reds try scored by Digby Ioane opened up a 19-3 lead. Ioane collected a chip kick from Quade Cooper after the visitors had turned the ball near the Reds’ 22m line.
Ioane claimed a second when he took an inside pass from Cooper after several phases near the Force’s goal line.
Faingaa also scored his second in the first half when he took a suspect looking pass from Cooper on first phase from a scrum and went through untouched to score under the posts.
A downpour during half time made for slippery conditions after the break.
Reds’ winger Peter Hynes was shown a Yellow Card by referee Ian Smith in the opening moments of the half for a professional foul close to his own line. The WA side took advantage of the extra number, with Nick Cummins finishing off a series of quick passes to dive over in the left corner. O’Connor’s sideline conversion brought the score to 36-10 after 46 minutes.
The Reds hit back soon after when Scott Higginbotham ran 40 metres after intercepting a Dane Haylett-Petty pass. The backrower crossed for his second try with just minutes remaining, and replacement Ben Lucas’ conversion took the score to 50-10.
Injuries to hooker Pek Cowan (shoulder) and new recruit Jono Jenkins (ankle) will be assessed during the week.
The Emirates Western Force will host the Waratahs at ME Bank Stadium in Perth on Saturday 20 March. The week six fixture will be the club’s Ladies Day, with funds being raised for the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA.
BY THE CLOCK
8th min – Try to the Reds scored by Anthony Faingaa. Converted by Quade Cooper. Reds lead 7-0
11th min – Try to the Reds scored by Luke Morahan. Not converted. Reds lead 12-0.
12th min – Tom Hockings replaces Richard Stanford (blood)
17th min – Penalty goal kicked by James O’Connor. Reds lead 12-3.
18th min – Stanford replaces Hockings (blood return)
22nd min – Try to the Reds score by Digby Ioane. Converted by Cooper. Reds lead 19-3.
23rd min – Pek Cowan replaces Ryan Tyrrell.
26th min – Chris O’Young replaces Brett Sheehan (blood)
27th min – Penalty Goal kicked by Cooper. Reds lead 22-3.
31st min – Sheehan replaces O’Young (blood return)
34th min – Try to the Reds scored by Ioane. Converted by Cooper. Reds lead 29-3.
38th min – Try to the Reds scored by A Faingaa. Converted by Cooper. Reds lead 36-3.
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 3 Reds 36
41st min – Tyrrell replaces Cowan.
43rd min – Yellow card to Peter Hynes of the Reds for a professional foul.
46th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Nick Cummins. Converted by O’Connor. Reds lead 36-10.
53rd min – Matt Dunning and Hockings replace Tim Fairbrother and Stanford. Hynes returns from sin bin.
55th min – Try to the Reds scored by Scott Higginbotham. Converted by Cooper. Reds lead 43-10.
57th min – Sam Harris and O’Young replace Dane Haylett-Petty and Sheehan.
62nd min – Yellow Card to A Faingaa for a second high tackle.
71st min – Yellow Card to David Hill for a professional foul. Jono Jenkins replaces Sam Wykes.
74th min – Mitch Inman replaces Jenkins.
77th min – Try to the Reds scored by Higginbotham. Converted by Ben Lucas. Reds lead 50-10.
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Reds 50
Emirates Western Force 10 (Cummins try; O’Connor 1/1 con, 1/1 pens, Sheehan 0/1 pens)
Reds 50 (A Faingaa 2, Ioane 2, Higginbotham 2, Morahan tries; Copper 5/6 cons, 1/2 pen, Lucas 1/1 con)
