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Force win 18-17 after the siren
Friday, 9 March 2007 7:47pm
Sportal - by Rick Boyd
In an astonishing finish of high drama, the Western Force scored a try and converted from the sideline on the final siren to break their home ground hoodoo with a thrilling 18-17 win over the Hurricanes at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.
Minutes before, the Hurricanes looked like they had won the match when reserve flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth rolled over the line and was awarded a try by South African referee Mark Lawrence.
Force fullback Drew Mitchell scored for the home team just four minutes into the match. Hurricanes skipper Tana Umaga replied for the visitors four minutes before half time for the Hurricanes to hold a 7-5 lead at half-time.
Much of the second half was a midfield running and kicking duel with Force winger Cameron Shepherd and Hurricanes flyhalf Blair Stewart swapping penalties and the lead, with the Force holding onto an 11-10 lead for most of the second half.
But the match finished in high drama when Gopperth grabbed a five-pointer and converted in the 77th minute before Shepherd scored in the corner with just 10 seconds left on the clock and then slotted the sideline conversion to win the game.
The Force struck early with a try in just the fourth minute after working downfield with a penalty kick for the line. The ball was rammed up the middle then spun wide where Mitchell broke the tackle of Hurricanes wing David Smith and scored. Shepherd narrowly missed the conversion from the sideline.
The Hurricanes fought their way back and had the better of territory and possession in the later stages of the half but the Force survived with a combination of phenomenal smother tackling, Hurricanes mistakes and strong lineouts.
However, with four minutes left in the half, Umaga came off the back of a ruck, tripped and crawled the last few yards to score the equalising try. Stewart converted and the Hurricanes went into half time 7-5 up.
The Force reclaimed the lead just two minutes after the break from an offisde at the ruck that also resulted in a yellow card for blindside flanker Luke Andrews. Shepherd popped over the sitter for the Force to lead 8-7.
It lasted three minutes as a turnover and a dubious ruck ruling by South African referee Mark Lawrence gave Stewart the opportunity to slot a 30-metre penalty kick and put the Hurricanes back in front 10-8.
After a midfield kicking duel, Mitchell sparked a high pace counter attack and six exciting phases of attack, ending with another easy penalty for Shepherd following a blatant professional foul in front of the posts.
The game continued to fluctuate as the clock wound down and the Force showed commendable composure in the face of Hurricanes' strategic kicking, driving play back downfield again and again.
Both sides had their chances to win the match late in the game.
Mitchell broke clean through the middle and with only the fullback to beat, through a long looping pass that went forward and over the touch line. The Hurricanes replied with a big break up the middle and prop Neemia Tialata appeared to score a try against the base of the post, but the TMO ruled he had lost control of the ball,
The same scenario unfolded a minute later as the Hurricanes again raced onto attack and Gopperth was awarded his try.
With three minutes to play, the Force forged back onto attack and after several thrusting phases, Shepherd scored in the corner after a long cut-out pass from Matt Giteau. The final siren sounded as Shepherd kicked the conversion from the sideline and Subiaco Oval erupted in a cauldron of wild celebration.
Western Force 18
Tries: Mitchell, Shepherd
Conversions: Shepherd
Penalties: Shepherd 2
Hurricanes 17
Tries: Umaga, Gopperth
Conversions: Stewart, Gopperth
Penalties: Stewart
Thanks to Rick Boyd and Rugby WA..
http://www.westernforce.com.au/news/.../section/50753
Whilst a highly well-written report i don't think it will do the boys justice for any hard-core Force Fans, you simply had to be there to experience it for yourself and store it in the memory bank!!![]()
WHAT CAN YOU SAY - GO THE FORCE
Unbelievable.....and an interesting observation, a couple of attempts of the Blue Crew to start the wave failed almost immediately. The crowd were there to watch the rugby, and desperately wanted the win.
That win was earnt by the players and supporters alike.
Passion.......keep it up.
I am not sure the enire Blue Crew are there for the Rugby or the free tickets...have a look at one of them in the replay ...he looks absolutly filthy that the force won...
hahahaha bloody blue crue!!!hahahahahahahahahahaha!!! as soon as sheps converted that try the reaction of the boys is priceless!!!
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"Believe in the best, think your best, study your best, have a goal for your best, never be satisfied with less than your best, try your best, and in the long run things will turn out for the best."
the noise was intense!! my voice still hurts
6PR were still getting calls about the game at 5:30 this arvo when I was driving home.
One old Granny, and she sounded really old, rang to say that she's never seen a game and " it's not our game, not like the good old WAFL"![]()
She was so pleased for her granddaughter who'd rang her today to tell her all about it BUT she couldn't understand her too good cause she'd lost her voice - priceless![]()
PS hope she got "caller of the day" cause it was two tickets for next Friday night.
wonder if it was the lady my aunty and I take to the WAFL. Remember what her name was?
Originally Posted by blueandblack
No. Sorry. But just in case it was her and she didn't win the tickets, why don't you and your aunty take her to The Force.![]()
Boy don't the Force boys know how to keep the fans on the edge of their seats, eh? Only side in the 14's that can do that I reckon.Would it be possible to see highlights reels posted on the website so that poor mugs like me who are now living interstate can get a glimpse of our heroes and get a bit of the excitement we miss and crave? I have seen this done on European football (soccer) websites (for a fee of course) and it's great!!! Just a way to get more fans involved in the 'heavenly' game. What do others think?
I'll post up some excerpts (eventually)
All of last seasons tries can be found here: http://thewholeforce.com/showthread.php?t=4105
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