Finally, Force record maiden win
It has taken nearly four months but the Western Force have finally recorded their maiden win, defeating the
Cheetahs 16-14 at the South African town of Kimberley this evening (Aus time).
Only one try for each team, both in the second forty, with Cheetahs flyhalf Willem de Waal taking the
honours for all of his teams match points.
The Force’s leading try scorer Scott Staniforth was on the end of an intercept play by replacement centre
Junior Palesasa, who pinched the ball from Meyer Bosman’s grasp before offloading to Staniforth.
The first half was a penalty goal shoot out between Cameron Shepherd and de Waal. Both landed
two-from-three with the Force having the last attempt five minutes out from the main interval.
Six-all at half time, the Force had a slender advantage in the possession and territory statistics at the
break, however the Cheetahs turned those figures around dramatically in the second half, though unfortunate
not to cross the line on more than one occasion.
Shepherd’s fourth penalty goal attempt put the Force ahead in the 43rd minute, however the lead was
short-lived as de Waal went over after a line out drive two minutes later. In the 56th minute, De Waal put
his team ahead by five points with his third penalty goal.
|
Rugby Super 14 - Round 13 |
| WESTERN FORCE |
16 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| Scott Staniforth | C. Shepherd 1/1 |
| | Penalties: |
| | C. Shepherd 3/4 |
|
| CENTRAL CHEETAHS |
14 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| Willem de Waal | Willem de Waal 0/1 |
| | Penalties: |
| | Willem de Waal 3/4 |
|
@ ABSA Park, Kimberley
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
Crowd: - |
The Cheetahs spent 79% of second half time in Force territory, pressuring the line with only a discipline
defense withstanding all challenges thrown at them.
The final 10 minutes was a gripping affair, with the Force reclaiming a two-point lead through the
Staniforth try and conversion from Shepherd.
Despite finishing the match one man down, David Pusey sin-binned for a professional obstruction, the Force
held on to record the historic victory.
Western Force has moved off the bottom, if only for a few hours before the Cats take the field. Next week
they end their South African tour against the Sharks from Durban on Friday night.
The Cheetahs are back at Kimberley, hoping to provide a better performance for the locals when they host
fellow South Africans in the Cats.
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