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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)
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Originally Posted by Bigbear-53
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