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The Emirates Western Force have given their season a much needed shot in the arm and dispelled doubts they were brittle in close encounters after a wonderful come from behind one point win against the Waratahs in Sydney.
Despite going in as firm underdogs, and on the back of seven changes to their run-on side, the West Australian’s produced their best effort of 2012 and were duly rewarded.
After signing with the club last week, David Harvey enjoyed a dream first outing with the opening try of the game as well as clutch kicking to finish with 16 of the club’s 21 points.
The other points came from unheralded winger Sam Wara who, in his first ever FxPro Super Rugby start, was the man to finish off the Waratahs with a try in the 64th minute.
It was the result of a wonderful piece of team play including the ever present Nathan Sharpe who provided a great flick to hooker Nathan Charles who drew a defender before giving it to Wara to cross in the right corner and snatch a one point advantage. Harvey’s conversion attempt bounced off the post, his only blemish from the boot.
With time still on the clock for the home side to respond the Emirates Western Force dug deep to keep the ball in their own half and despite a penalty with 30 seconds remaining allowing the Tahs one final crack, there wasn’t going to be any let up from the visitors.
With the Waratahs on attack and the siren already sounded, David Pocock’s ball pilfering skill came to the fore as the Emirates Western Force skipper stole the ball from a breakdown and Charles booted it into touch to complete the victory.
It was a solid performance across the field. The forwards again provided a great platform for the backs who moved the ball with fluency, Brett Sheehan and James Stannard managing the game well, while Harvey’s pin point field kicking also relieved pressure when needed.
“We’ve worked hard over the last month and it was reward for the group. At some stage you obviously want a result that gives you belief and confident in what you’ve doing,” Coach Richard Graham said.
“Thinking back to last year 11 of the 16 games we played we were leading at 65 minutes but didn’t convert, that was clearly an area we had to address. We got ourselves into a similar situation today but were able to hold on.
“Tonight’s game in isolation is really important but what we need now is to prepare and come back out and win again next week.”
The character of the Emirates Western Force was tested early when the Waratahs were able to maul their way from a lineout not far from the try line and Adam Ashley-Cooper fell over to open the scoring. Daniel Halangahu converted to give the home side a strong start in the opening 5 minutes.
Harvey reduced the margin with a successful penalty a short time later and the Emirates Western Force then hit the lead when they opted to take a lineout deep in their attacking zone rather than the kick for goal after the Waratahs went a man down following Dean Mumm’s yellow card.
It decision was justified when Stannard put Harvey through a big gap and the two times Ken Catchpole Medal winner for best player in the NSW 1st grade competition didn’t need a second invitation to dot down over the line and celebrate his elevation to the elite level.
The Perth side’s pressure at the breakdown was troubling the Waratahs but against the run of play the home side were able to secure their second try when halfback Sarel Pretorius knocked the ball out of the hands of his opposite number and the spill was cleaned up by Tom Kingston who strolled over for the points.
As the clock wound down towards the break the Emirates Western Force drove their way forward and a penalty gave Harvey another chance to shoot and he ensured that just one point was all that would separate the sides at half time.
Ten minutes after the restart the home supporters were on their feet when Ashley-Cooper slipped through a gap to touch down over the try line but it was waved away by the referee after Rob Horne had clearly obstructed the Emirates Western Force defence.
A penalty from Harvey in the 53rd minute put the West Aussies in the lead once more but two in a row from Halangahu gave the Tahs the lead before Wara silenced the Sydney Football Stadium crowd with his maiden try.
2012 FxPro Super Rugby – Week 4
Waratahs v Emirates Western Force
Saturday, 17 March 2012 at Sydney Football Stadium
Waratahs 20 (Tries: T Kingston, A Ashley-Cooper; Con: D Halangahu 2/2; Pen: D Halangahu 2/3)
Emirates Western Force 21 (Tries: D. Harvey, S Wara; Con: D. Harvey 1/2; Pen: D. Harvey 3/3; DG: J. Stannard 0/1)
Squads
Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Dave Dennis, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tevita Metuisela, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 10. Daniel Halangahu (c), 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Berrick Barnes, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Tom Kingston, 15. Bernard Foley, Reserves: 16. John Ulugia, 17. Paddy Ryan, 18. Sitaleki Timani, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Richard Stanford, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Tom Carter
Emirates Western Force: 1. Pek Cowan; 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. David Pocock (c), 8. Matt Hodgson, 9. Brett Sheehan, 10. James Stannard, 11. Alfie Mafi, 12. Rory Sidey, 13. Will Tupou, 14. Samu Wara, 15. David Harvey, Reserves: 16. Ben Whittaker, 17. Kieran Longbottom, 18. Phoenix Battye, 19. Richard Brown, 20. Justin Turner, 21. Ben Seymour, 22. Winston Stanley
Milestones: Will Tupou (FxPro Super Rugby debut), David Harvey (FxPro Super Rugby debut)
Yellow Cards: Dean Mumm (17-27 minutes)
Referee: Jonathon White, NZ
Assistant Referees: Steve Walsh and Angus Gardner, AUS
Crowd: 14,673
By the clock
Min Detail Score
4 Adam Ashley-Cooper Try 5 - 0
5 Daniel Halangahu Conversion 7 - 0
10 David Harvey Penalty Goal 7 - 3
17 Dean Mumm Sin Bin 7 - 3
17 David Harvey Try 7 - 8
18 David Harvey Conversion 7 - 10
21 Daniel Halangahu Missed PG 7 - 10
37 Tom Kingston Try 12 - 10
38 Daniel Halangahu Conversion 14 - 10
40 David Harvey Penalty Goal 14 - 13
52 James Stannard Missed DG 14 - 13
53 David Harvey Penalty Goal 14 - 16
55 Daniel Halangahu Penalty Goal 17 - 16
62 Daniel Halangahu Penalty Goal 20 - 16
64 Samu Wara Try 20 - 21
66 David Harvey Missed Con 20 - 21