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A brave but under-manned Emirates Western Force side has gone down 47-22 to the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington today.
An outstanding second half display from the home side led to the win, with five of their seven tries coming in the second period. The Force scored three tries of their own, but missed too many tackles in their own half to stay with the ‘Canes.
James O’Connor opened the scoring when he punished the Hurricanes for creeping offside by slotting a 30m penalty from straight in front of the posts. Willie Ripia replied with a penalty of his own when the visitors were penalized for the same infringement, taking the score to 3-all after 10 minutes.
The ‘Canes added a try when Cory Jane dropped on a Tamaiti Ellison grubber after Ma’a Nonu had broken the line to set up good attacking position. Ripia could not convert from the right sideline.
A scrum penalty blown against former Wellington tighthead prop, Tim Fairbrother, resulted in three more points to the home side.
A second perfectly-executed grubber from Ellison put David Smith over in what was almost a mirror image of the first try. Ripia’s conversion from the left hand sideline made the score 18-3.
The Force hit back just two minutes later when a Dane Haylett-Petty bust set up Josh Tatupu, who juggled Mitch Inman’s pass before crossing in the corner. O’Connor’s attempted conversion hit both the left hand upright and the crossbar before bouncing back into the field of play, leaving the score 18-8.
Matt Hodgson looked to have crossed in the 32nd minute, but referee Vinny Munro correctly ruled he had been held up. A missed penalty from O’Connor just before half time was the only real threat to the scoreboard before the break.
The home side started brightly in the second half, with flanker Michael Paterson capitalising on a turnover to finish in the corner to take the lead out to 23-8 in the 42nd minute.
Ellison was the creator for the third time when he slipped a tackle to put Smith over for his second try, this time on first phase from a five-metre scrum, to take the score to 28-8.
A sustained period of attack from the visitors resulted in a maiden Super Rugby try to Haylett-Petty, who was put into a gap by O’Connor. The fullback converted, and the margin was back to 28-15.
The Hurricanes responded with two tries in four minutes, to prop Neemia Tialata and centre Ma’a Nonu, to split the game open and lead 40-15 with 12 minutes left.
Reserve scrumhalf Tyson Keats joined the scorers when he gleefully accepted a pass from returning backrower Rodney So’oialo to cross from 5m out.
Chris O’Young scored a consolation try in the final minute, which was no less than the gallant WA side deserved for their efforts, to make the final score 47-22.
Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman worked tirelessly for the men in blue, while Nathan Sharpe led from the front. Four players – Ryan Tyrrell, Stefano Hunt, Joelin Rapana and Luke Jones – made their Super Rugby debuts off the bench in the second half.
Tamaiti Ellison, David Smith, Tialata and Piri Weepu were strong contributors for the victors.
The Emirates Western Force will host the Chiefs at ME Bank Stadium on Saturday 27 March in week three of the Investec Bank Super 14.
BY THE CLOCK
3rd min – Penalty goal kicked by James O’Connor. Emirates Western Force lead 3-0.
10th min – Penalty goal kicked by Willie Ripia. 3-all.
14th min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Cory Jane. Not converted. Hurricanes lead 8-3.
19th min – Penalty goal kicked by Ripia. Hurricanes lead 11-3.
22nd min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by David Smith. Converted by Ripia. Hurricanes lead 18-3.
25th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Josh Tatupu. Not converted. Hurricanes lead 18-8.
32nd min – Richard Stanford replaces Tom Hockings (blood)
38th min – Hockings replaces Stanford (blood return)
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 8 Hurricanes 18
42nd min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Michael Paterson. Not converted. Hurricanes lead 23-8.
54th min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Smith. Not converted. Hurricanes lead 28-8.
59th min – Nic Henderson replaces Matt Dunning.
60th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Dane Haylett-Petty. Converted by O’Connor. Hurricanes lead 28-15.
64th min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Neemia Tialata. Not converted. Hurricanes lead 33-15.
66th min – Chris O’Young and Joelin Rapana replace Brett Sheehan and Haylett-Petty.
67th min – Stanford replaces Hockings.
67th min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Ma’a Nonu. Converted by Piri Weepu. Hurricanes lead 40-15.
72nd min – Ryan Tyrrell and Stefano Hunt replace Pek Cowan and Sam Harris
73rd min – Try to the Hurricanes scored by Tyson Keats. Converted by Aaron Cruden. Hurricanes lead 47-15.
74th min – Luke Jones and Dunning replace Sam Wykes and Tim Fairbrother.
80th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Chris O’Young. Converted by O’Connor. Hurricanes lead 47-22.
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 22 Hurricanes 47
Emirates Western Force 22 (Tatupu, Haylett-Petty, O’Young tries; O’Connor 2/3 con, 1/2 pens)
Hurricanes 47 (Smith 2, Jane, Paterson, Tialata, Nonu, Keats tries; Ripia 1/4 cons, 2/2 pens, Weepu 1/2 cons, Cruden 1/1 con)
Cant believe all the so called Force supporters who want to win the tipping and go against us, shame Gerry and aged gunfighter!!! maybe thats why you are a has been??,,LOL, anyway see you all next week, Must admit things dont look good with so many missing>
Again I think Mitchell would have to be proud of their efforts nights... many new boys stood up tonight... Hey and what did I tell you guys Inman is a great signing...
JOC stepping into 10 played some nice balls .ie. DHP try. And Sharpie is at his best…
Well done guys, perhaps no points on the S14 ladder but plenty with your fans… 3 tries on a tough night out amongst heavy injury loss… congrats…well played
While we were taken to the cleaners, it is not all doom and gloom. the forwards were outstanding, take a bow Matt Hodgson, he was simply magnificent, added to this Sharpie was back to his best.
Unfortunately our backline showed their inexperience but they will learn, we were just too light on the outside against one of the best back three in the game.
O connor while not his best kicking efforts was all heart, Mitch Inman great first game up, Sheehan was a tiger but the rest their were gaping lapses in defence.
Hopefully the boys keep thier heads up and with experienced players set to drip into the side as the season progresses i think we will finish strongly in South Africa.
Yet again the commitment that was lacking in prior years was there so keep up the faith, we beleive in you boys.
Go the force, onwards and upwards from here.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
I may not be dancing in the streets, but I am satisfied with that performance, well done to all players for showing some character.
Still a long way to go while we have a limited squad but an upset could well be on the cards over the Chiefs next week, it's not as if they have much of a defence going at the moment!
Last edited by Burgs; 20-02-10 at 20:23.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Feeling proud to be a FORCE man.We had a real dip and you cant ask for more with the line up. Hodgo, Sharpie,DHP and that angry little bastard Sheehan wre excellent. Sheehan who i thought was a complete tosser when playing for the tahs has turned out to be the narky, gobby little gobshite that every team needs. Well impressed and give him a decent 10(Rabbit).......look out.
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
Well done Western Force. You guys tried and we are proud. Better than the game with the Brumbies. Keep it up.
says the man who used to have "GiteauIsGonnaScoreTwenty" ...![]()
Not wanting to brag, but I thought mine was longer?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Yep - although does punctuation count?
GiteauIsGonnaScore20 = 20 characters
Brokendown gunfighter = 21 characters
The.Committed.In.Exile = 22 characters
However, the maximum length for name these days is 12 characters
im only one character
unlike some who post here!