Hurricanes easily defeat the Force

The Hurricanes have defeated the Western Force 29-5, in their Round Two match of the Rugby Super 14, at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth this evening.

The Wellington based club called New Plymouth home for the night, and put up a superb performance for the 14,000 fans inside the venue. The Perth based Western Force took the honours on the possession, territory and penalty counts, however could not transfer that advantage onto the scoreboard.

Three first half tries decided the match winner, the Hurricanes showed last week's match against the Auckland Blues was indeed no fluke. However, flanker Conrad Smith will be sidelined for many weeks to come after a sickening tackle, in the sixth minute, resulted in, what was later confirmed, a broken lower leg with fractures of both the tibia and fibula.

The Hurricanes made a great start and were over for the first points of the match, after only four minutes, through Andrew Hore, who barged over from the attacking scrum.

Two minutes later, Lome Fa'atau crossed for the second try. Held deep in their defensive 22m, Smith set-up the play that led to the try with a pass to the fullback Isaia Toeava, who found Fa'atau on the wing.

It took 10 minutes before the Force entered the Hurricanes 22. A penalty, after Hore failed to release the ball, allowed flyhalf Brock James to kick out, which resulted in a line out 15 metres from the try line.

A second penalty saw the Force venture closer, however an ordinary pass from scrumhalf Matt Henjak, to James, saw Toeava mark the ball from a cross-field kick by James.

The Force ventured inside the 22 again in the 18th minute, fortunate the turnover saw the Hurricanes hand it straight back through a penalty when No.8 Rodney So'oialo failed to release the ball.

The crowd then became frustrated by the stop-start play and constant whistle blowing by South African referee Tappe Henning. The Hurricanes went close when a wayward lineout throw-in sailed over the pack and bounced into the hands of replacement flanker Tane Tu'ipulotu.

First points for the Force were within reach in the 24th minute, however, it was the captain, and lock, Nathan Sharpe who failed to grasp the passing ball on the 22m line.

Gopperth made it 17-0 in the 30th minute when Brendan Cannon infringed during the midfield scrummage. Sloppy defence by the Force saw lock Jason Eaton gather the ball and stroll over. Gopperth missed the conversion attempt.

Half time, the Hurricanes led 22-0. Western Force led the possession count at the break 60-40%, while turnovers again hurt them after having several opportunities to post tries.

Western Force managed to get over the line three times in the second half, however only one counted for scoreboard points.

The Force went on the attack and in the 49th minute crossed the line. Centre Ma'a Nonu knocked the ball down on the first play, while desperate defence stopped prop Gareth Hardy from grounding the ball.

Sharpe was another to go over in the 57th minute, though denied when So'oialo managed to get between the ball and the ground.

With the possession, territory and penalty count in their favour the Force really should have been the team leading, turnovers though were their undoing.

In the 77th minute, a pass from flanker Jerry Collins saw Eaton charge though the lacklustre defence for his second try and seal the fourth-try bonus point for his team.

For the visitors, it was third time lucky as centre Scott Staniforth pounced on the ball in the corner after a grubber by James.

Next week, Both teams are in action again on Friday night. The Hurricanes host the Golden Cats from South Africa, while the Western Force host the Waikato Chiefs at Subiaco Oval.

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