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The Emirates Western Force have finished their two match tour of New Zealand with a tough 36-28 win over the Highlanders in Queenstown this afternoon.
Both sides scored three tries, but the visitors kicked eight goals from eight attempts, as both Matt Giteau and Cameron Shepherd brought their kicking boots to seal the victory.
After exchanging penalties in the first ten minutes, the Highlanders opened the try scoring when centre Aaron Bancroft sliced through the defence and ran 40 metres to open up a 10-3 lead.
Lock Tom Hockings and number 8 Richard Brown answered with tries of their own, each converted by Giteau.
A Bowden penalty after the siren closed the lead to 17-13 at half time.
The Highlanders opened the second half well, with winger Paul Williams finishing a sweeping movement before Fetu’u Vainikolo scored a magnificent individual try minutes later to give the Otago side a 25-20 lead.
Another Bowden penalty widened the gap to 28-20, but the Emirates Western Force scored the last 16 points through an intercept try to Ryan Cross and a further three penalties.
Cross was a good contributor in the win, as was winger Scott Staniforth. Forwards David Pocock, Tom Hockings and Richard Brown were also in good form.
The Emirates Western Force will now return home to play the Stormers at Subiaco Oval on Friday 28 March.
8th min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Matt Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 3-0.
10th min: Penalty goal to the Highlanders kicked by Daniel Bowden. 3-all.
15th min: Try to the Highlanders scored by Aaron Bancroft. Converted by Bowden. Highlanders lead 10-3.
26th min: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Tom Hockings. Converted by Giteau. 10-all.
30th min: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Richard Brown. Converted by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 17-10.
41st min: Penalty goal to the Highlanders kicked by Bowden. Emirates Western Force lead 17-13.
HALF TIME – Emirates Western Force 17 Highlanders 13
43rd min: Try to the Highlanders scored by Paul Williams. Not converted by Bowden. Highlanders lead 18-17
50th min: Try to the Highlanders scored by Fetu’u Vainikolo. Converted by Bowden. Highlanders lead 25-17
55th min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Giteau. Highlanders lead 25-20.
61st min: Penalty goal to the Highlanders kicked by Bowden. Highlanders 28-20.
66th min: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Ryan Cross. Converted by Giteau. Highlanders lead 28-27.
69th min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 30-28
71st min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Cameron Shepherd. Emirates Western Force lead 33-28.
79th min: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Shepherd. Emirates Western Force lead 36-28.
FULL TIME - Emirates Western Force 36 Highlanders 28
Emirates Western Force 36 (Hockings, Brown, Cross tries; Giteau 3 cons, 3 pens, Shepherd 2 pens).
Highlanders 28 (Bancroft, Williams, Vainikolo tries; Bowden 2 cons 3 pens)