Force outplay the Reds

The Western Force have outplayed the Queensland Reds in their Australian Provincial Championship clash at Ballymore in Brisbane.

The visitors scored four tries to nil in a comprehensive 32-6 victory before a crowd of 3,025.

Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon made a memorable return to representative rugby, scoring a try in his first game since surgery on a serious neck injury in April. Also amongst the points was Australian U19 winger Brett Stapleton, who scored twice, and one of the exciting discoveries of the Tooheys New Super 14 season, Haig Sare.

Stapleton opened the scoring for the Force, both tries coming within 12 minutes after good ball movement led to the blonde-haired flyer crossing in the corner on both occasions.

Force APC coach John Mulvihill said the team had trained with enthusiasm and energy all week, and they brought that spark onto the paddock.

He said the team stuck to structure, were solid in defence and counter-rucked with intent.

"Our execution in attack was first class, particularly in the opening 20 minutes," Mulvihill said.

"Matty Henjak and Scotty Daruda really controlled the game and outplayed their opposite numbers."

Despite the score-line, Reds coach Eddie Jones was not pessimistic about his team’s future chances.

“Whilst I’m disappointed, it’s not the end-of-the-world stuff yet,” he said.

“We’re trying a few different things, it just didn’t work today.”

The Western Force's next game is in Canberra on Friday against the Brumbies, who beat the Waratahs 14-13 in Canberra last night, while the Reds travel to the NSW Central Coast to play the Waratahs next Saturday.