0
A strong second half comeback from the Emirates Western Force has ensured a 23-all draw with Crusaders in Christchurch this afternoon.
In a curious twist of history, the final score was an exact replica of the inaugural match between the teams at Subiaco Oval in 2006.
Despite being outscored three tries to two, Matt Giteau’s brilliance with the boot and ball in hand saw a second half surge that almost allowed the visitors to claim a remarkable win.
The first half began with a series of long arm penalties as referee Marius Jonker closely policed the offside line. Crusaders Flyhalf Stephen Brett kicked just one of his three goals in the first ten minutes, while Matt Giteau’s response levelled the scores at 3-all.
The home side took advantage of numerous handling errors by the visitors to score three tries in the remainder of the first half. Centres Ryan Crotty and Tim Bateman each crossed for a try before a second Giteau penalty cut the lead to 15-6. Five minutes later, lock Isaac Ross finished a brilliant team try when he dived over in the left corner to make the half time score 20-6.
The sides swapped penalty goals in the opening stages of the second half before the games was turned on its head on the hour mark with a spectacular try team try finished off by replacement winger Haig Sare.
Sare was put into position by Giteau, who beat several defenders before looping a long pass to his winger. Only moments earlier the Crusaders appeared certain to score before Drew Mitchell barrelled Colin Slade into touch in-goal. Giteau’s sideline conversion cut the margin to 23-16.
Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald was sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle on the airborne James O’Connor five minutes later, giving the Force a one man advantage for the subsequent ten minutes.
O’Connor was in the thick of the action again soon after when he crossed for a try of his own after running onto a beautiful Giteau offload. The try was created by a Mitchell breakout to give his side great attacking position.
The final moments were tense, as Brett missed a straight forward kick for goal with just four minutes left on the clock that could have sealed victory.
Matt Giteau, David Pocock and James O’Connor were impressive for the WA side, which had good platforms at the scrum and put pressure on the Crusaders backline as both sides consistently flirted with the offside line.
As it happened (courtesy of OxleyMoron):
1:25pm Good afternoon and welcome to those who are joining us from around the rugby universe (including Melbourne and the Netherlands)
1:28pm Force out onto the ground
1:29pm Crusaders on the ground
1:30pm Force to kick off
1:32pm high tackle penalty against O'connor. Brett to have a shot
1:33pm Brett misses the penalty. 0-0 after 2 mins
1:34pm Offside against the force. Brett to have another shot.
1:35pm Brett has missed to the left. 0-0 after 4 mins
1:37pm Another penalty against the force - offside
1:38pm Brett kicks one third time lucky. 0-3
1:40pm Crusaders offside. Gits to have a shot. First time the force have been in the crusaders half.
1:41pm Gits kicks it. 3-3 after 10 mins
1:43pm Jonker has just talked to sharpe about offside
1:43pm Crusaders score a try through Crotty in the corner. They swung the passes wide to find the overlap.
1:44pm Brett misses the conversion. 3-8 after 13 mins
1:46pm Crusaders get a good break from the kickoff, the defence was nowhere. Force throw inside our 22
1:47pm Lineout is poor, knock on from Pocock, turned over, grubber kick put through by Brett, Mitchell appeared to knock on, Crusaders may have scored a try. Gone up to TMO.
1:48pm TMO awards the try. Try scored by Bateman.
1:49pm Conversion is good. 3-15 after 15 mins
1:49pm Force on attack, inside 22
1:51pm Ball knocked on by pocock, 5m out from crusaders line.
1:53pm Good push from the force at the scrum
1:55pm O'connor tries a chip kick, almost comes off, force throw on halfway
1:56pm Gits knocks on inside the 22 after a small running dart from the quick tap
1:57pm The last 5 minutes have been much better from the force, except for the knock ons
1:58pm Offside against the crusaders
1:59pm Gits to have a shot, about 40m out
2:00pm its good. 6-15 after 25 mins
2:02pm Knock on against the crusaders. First force feed scrum
2:02pm 6 handling errors by the force, 2 by saders
2:05pm Try to Isaac Ross. The inside channel defence was very poor, there were about 5 overloads from crusaders in the tackle to keep the ball moving.
2:05pm Brett misses the conversion. 6-20 after 30mins
2:07pm Crusaders on attack again. Offside penalty against valentine
2:07pm Crusaders have kicked for the lineout, pushing for the 4th try
2:09pm Good defence by the force get the turnover 10m out from our line
2:09pm Throw not straight from crusaders
2:10pm Knock on from Waldrom, force scrum on 10m line
2:14pm Force were lucky, a couple of big mistakes there. 2 minutes to half time
2:17pm Half time. 6-20. The crusaders were in control for most of the first half. Simple handling errors are what have cost the force dearly on attack an the missed tackles, especially in the inside channels on defence.
2:21pm Possesion and territory fairly even, 8 handling errors to 3
2:26pm 2nd half has begun
2:29pm force have had some possession, not crossing the advantage line
2:30pm offside against the crusaders
2:30pm gits kicks for the lineout, inside the 22
2:31pm throw not straight by tai
2:32pm force on attack
2:33pm Jonker wants a chat to the crusaders for continual offside. Warning issued.
2:34pm Gits to have a shot. Got it. 9-20 after 47 mins
2:34pm Hodgson on for Stanford
2:35pm force offside from valentines box kick, saders thrown outside 22. Shep off, Sare on.
2:38pm saders knock on 5m out. Horua driven into touch
2:40pm Knock down from Drew. Jonker pays a penalty for late tackle. Penalty kicked by Brett
2:41pm 9-23 after 53 mins
2:41pm gits kicks out on the full from the kickoff. Hockings on for Pusey
2:43pm Pocock down receiving treatment
2:46pm Great last metre defence stopped a try there by drew
2:47pm Sare scores a try. Fantastic break by Gits
2:48pm good work by sare to get the ball down. Gits converts from the sideline. 16-23
2:49pm knocked on by the crusaders inside the 22
2:51pm The crusaders have just bombed a try, they had a 4 man overlap
2:54pm Forward pass by the saders on attack. Castle off, AJ on.
2:56pm Leon McDonald gets a yellow card for taking O'connor out in the air
2:56pm Pocock throws a forward pass
2:58pm offside by crusaders, force inside the 22
2:59pm O'connor TRY
2:59pm Try almost socred under the posts
3:00pm Gits with another good run and offload to give the try to rabbit. Converted. 23 all.
3:01pm Holmes on for Tai, 11 mins left
3:02pm crusaders ball on 10m line
3:04pm penalty against force. Sare was offside
3:05pm Brett to have a shot from the 22, missed it right. 23-23 73 mins
3:06pm crusaders on attack
3:07pm Macdonald back on from the sin bin.
3:08pm force on attack inside 22
3:08pm pelesasa driven into touch 15m out
3:08pm cowan off, castle back on
3:10pm gits knocks on and hit late by Franks
3:12pm scrum near halfway, crusaders feed, time is almost up
3:12pm hooter has gone
3:13pm DRAW
3:13pm 2006 has repeated itself.
3:14pm A late chance to win the game for the force went begging. Horua went to kick the ball after the hooter went, was lucky it came bak to giteau who couldn't keep it in.
3:16pm A poor first half by the force, however the second half was better, purely on the back of gits performance
3:18pm Sharpie has said in the post game interview that the force didn't play well early, but are happy to walk away with 2 pts.
3:19pm There are a few injury concerns from the game, Shep went off early with a leg problem by the look of it, castle was holding his arm towards the end of the game, gits and pocock received treatment for a couple of big hits
3:23pm handling errors 15 to 10, territory 45%, possession 48%, 11 missed tackles
3:24pm 2pts in Christchurch still keeps the force in contention for a top 4 spot.
3:27pm The next game for the force is saturday night against the Sharks at Subi. Remember to be proud in pink next week and donate towards The InnForcers pink hair pledge.
3:28pm See you at Subi next week. Ox signing off.