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Emirates Western Force Coach John Mitchell has praised his side’s effort and application as they rebounded from a battering last weekend to narrowly go down to the in-form Waratahs at ME Bank Stadium.
Mitchell backed his players to respond against the Tahs by naming an unchanged run-on side, although one changed was forced just before the game with Mark Bartholomeusz starting at full back following the late withdrawal of Dane Haylett-Petty with an ankle injury.
The Force led by two points at half time and threatened to cross several times late in the game however they were held up by a desperate Waratahs defence. Two penalty goals by the visitors after the break were enough for them to snatch a victory which Mitchell believed could have easily gone the other way.
“I do think the boys (Force) deserved to win that in the end, they hung in there for a long time, got plenty of possession but didn’t get any conversion for that pressure,” said Mitchell.
“I’m thrilled with the way they threw themselves out there tonight, they gave themselves a chance, a really good chance, and without making excuses I thought they were a little bit unlucky not to come away with the result.”
The opportunity to respond following a poor showing against the Reds couldn’t come quick enough for the playing group and they proved that despite the horrendous injury toll the Force has suffered this season they can more than hold their own on the football field.
“The great thing about tonight is that we threw something at the opposition for a long period of time and we really have something to go from at this point and that is really pleasing,” Mitchell said.
“We had spoken before about probably not working hard enough but we certainly gave ourselves a chance by working hard.
“We take a lot of positives out of tonight, from the way we played as a team and as individuals. We have a real foundation to go from.”
The line-out clicked into gear after stuttering last weekend, as did the defence with players putting their bodies on the line throughout the full 80 minutes.
While the squad can hold their heads high after a hard fought effort they will be hoping to go one step better when they meet the top of the table Bulls at ME Bank Stadium on Saturday night and secure a maiden win in 2010.
“The players gained a lot of self belief in the way that they initiated their performance,” said Mitchell.
“We have seen some things that we’ve been wanting to see for a while but we just really haven’t been able to get through content to be able to get belief in that particular area.
“It showed great character and a lot of men in that changeroom grew up tonight.”
BY THE CLOCK
2nd min – Penalty Goal kicked by Berrick Barnes. Waratahs lead 3-0.
10th min – Penalty Goal kicked by James O’Connor. 3-all
16th min – Try to the Waratahs scored by Drew Mitchell. Not converted. Waratahs lead 8-3.
25th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Scott Staniforth. Converted by O’Connor. Emirates Western Force lead 10-8.
38th min – Tom Hockings replaces Sam Wykes
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Waratahs 8
56th min – Penalty Goal kicked by Daniel Halangahu. Waratahs lead 11-10.
62nd min – Mitch Inman replaces Scott Staniforth.
65th min – Penalty Goal kicked by Halangahu. Waratahs lead 14-10.
66th min – Ben Whittaker replaces Ryan Tyrrell.
68th min – Chris O’Young replaces Matt Hodgson (blood).
69th min – Kieran Longbottom replaces Nic Henderson. Hodgson replaces Brett Sheehan (blood return).
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Waratahs 14
Emirates Western Force 10 (Staniforth try; O’Connor 1/1 con, 1/2 pen, Sheehan 0/1 pens)
Waratahs 14 (Mitchell try; Barnes 0/1 con, 1/3 pen, Halangahu 2/2 pen)
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Originally Posted by zimeric
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
