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FORCE PRIMED FOR SUPER 14 OPENER
9/2/2010
The Emirates Western Force will head into their week one Investec Bank Super 14 clash against the Brumbies with winning form after a 31-12 victory in their third and final trial at ME Bank Stadium in Perth.
The home side started strongly, with two converted tries and two penalty goals within the first 20 minutes.
James O’Connor opened the scoring, before Matt Hodgson - a client of The Fordham Company - barged over near the posts in the sixth minute. O’Connor’s subsequent conversion made the score 10-0.
Dominating territory, possession and the penalty count, the boys in blue crossed for a second time when Sam Harris burrowed over following a brilliant individual show of skill from winger Cameron Shepherd, another client of The Fordham Company.
Shepherd added a further three points to the total with a penalty in the 20th minute to make the score 20-0.
The Reds pulled one back when Quade Cooper, wearing the unfamiliar no. 24 jersey, ghosted through the defence before dabbing a well-weighted grubber for Rod Davies, who dropped on the ball to score.
A neat move down the left flank allowed the Force to add a third try before the half hour mark, with Richard Brown grabbing a bobbling pass to dot down in the corner. The score remained 25-5 at half time.
The Reds started brightly in the second half, with fullback Peter Hynes slicing his way through the midfield to set up an attacking opportunity. Scrumhalf Will Genia pushed through a would-be tackler to score soon after, with Cooper’s conversion closing the margin to 25-12.
A skirmish after Nic Henderson was felled by a high shot resulted in a third Force penalty goal, with O’Connor taking the kick. The teenage fullback slotted another kick five minutes later, taking the lead to 31-12 after 58 minutes.
The final minutes saw both benches emptied, with all eight reserves seeing playing time for the home side.
Hodgson, O’Connor, Brett Sheehan, Nathan Sharpe and Cameron Shepherd looked ready for the real competition, whilst Mark Bartholomeusz controlled the game well. Pek Cowan was solid in the unfamiliar position of hooker, with both the scrum and lineout performing strongly. Cooper, Hynes, and Genia were impressive for the visitors.
The Emirates Western Force will host the Brumbies at ME Bank Stadium in Perth this Friday (12 February) in round one of the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14.
Emirates Western Force 31 (Hodgson, Harris, Brown tries; O’Connor 3 pens, 2 cons, Shepherd pen) defeated
Reds 12 (Davies, Genia tries; Cooper con)