Force go down to the Brumbies

The Western Force have been beaten by a slick Brumbies outfit, who ran in three tries to one at Viking Park in Canberra this evening.

The 25-10 scoreline is exactly how the two teams finished up in their Tooheys New Super 14 clash at Subiaco Oval in February.

Tonight, the visitors went into the half-time break down 15-to-3 but fought a better second stanza, with winger Brett Stapleton scoring his third try of the Australian Provincial Championship.

Brumbies winger Francis Fainifo opened the scoring for the home team, one of two tries he posted for the match, with hooker James McCormack scoring his side’s third.

The night was further soured for the visitors with an ankle injury to winger Digby Ioane, who is now in doubt for next weekend’s game.

Western Force APC coach John Mulvihill said execution in all facets of play had let the team down, with the Brumbies potent at the breakdown.

Mulvihill said the team played a much better game in the second half but it was always going to be difficult catching up to a well-oiled Brumbies side.

“We slipped off too many tackles which made it difficult for Richard Brown and Dave Pocock to get entry at the breakdown,” he said.

“Our set piece was also inconsistent, particularly in defensive lineouts.”

Mulvihill said the team would quickly regroup for next weekend’s game against the Waratahs, which could determine whether Perth will host the APC final on Friday 29 September.

“Next week we will have most of our Wallabies back, as they will, so it’s sure to be an interesting game.”

The Western Force will return to Perth tomorrow before flying to New South Wales on Wednesday for the Waratahs game, which will be played in Bathurst.

Last weekend, the Force beat the Queensland Reds 32-6 in Brisbane, with Stapleton scoring two tries.