Second Half Comeback Ensures First Win In New Zealand
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Second Half Comeback Ensures First Win In New Zealand
Saturday, 15 March 2008 7:53pm
Sportal
Nathan Sharpe's Emirates Western Force pulled off the upset of the Investec Super 14 to date when beating the Blues 27-17 at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.
The result matched the Blues' loss to the Sharks on the same ground last year while compounding the loss was their failure to take a bonus point from the game.
For much of the game, the Blues appeared in control but the final quarter proved its undoing.
It lost first five-eighths Nick Evans after 30 minutes but initially that didn't appear to upset the side, especially as it scored a stunning try to centre Anthony Tuitavake two minutes from the break.
However, the continuity both in attack and defence disappeared in the second half when the Blues lost shape and were beaten 20-0.
The Blues had scored first after 10 minutes. An impressive interchange of passes between captain and lock Troy Flavell, No.8 Nick Williams and second five-eighths Benson Stanley set up the Wellington side for several drives at the line. Crawling across the field, with prop John Afoa impressive holding his feet, the final break came when prop Tony Woodcock burst through for the opening try.
The Force managed line breaks, but in the first quarter at least, the Blues' cover defence held, while one impressive tackle by fullback Ben Atiga stopped the flying Force wing Scott Staniforth in his tracks 15m out from the line.
Twenty-one minutes into the half, first five-eighths Matt Giteau had a chance to open the scoring for his side after being taken in a head high tackle by Stanley. However, he missed from just to the left of the posts.
However, moments later, it was Giteau who moved ball back to the left from a Force movement to the right and after wing Drew Mitchell drew the defence, he fed fullback Cameron Shepherd into space and took the chance to score with Giteau drawing the sides level.
It didn't seem to upset the Blues as Atiga took over the goal-kicking duties to land a penalty goal after 36 minutes, then did a nice tidying job of a bouncing ball in the backline to set Toeava bursting through at pace. When Toeava was stopped Atiga then inpassed to a flying Tuitavake, who just headed the defence to score a spectacular try.
Atiga added the conversion to give the Blues a 17-7 lead at halftime.
The Force dictated play for long periods of the second half and after 22 minutes Giteau fired a long pass across the front of the Blues posts and No.8 Richard Brown was able to step past Tuitavake to score. Giteau's conversion was followed two minutes later by a penalty goal which gave the Force the lead 20-17.
Four minutes later, replacement loose forward Tamaiti Horua crossed when the Force worked the blindside and left the Blues brutally exposed.
The Blues' tight men were heavily involved, none more than prop John Afoa who was outstanding. At different stages he was leaping high on the wing securing bouncing kicks with ease and on another occasion he went through an outside gap like an experienced centre.
Drew Mitchell had a busy, rugged game for the Force while Giteau called the shots with precision and loose forwards Brown and blindside flanker Scott Fava competed strongly at the breakdown.
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