Force hold off Dragons

Wing Luke Morahan scored two of his team's tries in what was a hard-fought win for the Super Rugby side at McGillivray Oval.

No.8 Angus Cottrell opened the scoring with try as the Perth-based team dominated possession and territory in the opening 20 minutes.

Force captain Matt Hodgson extended his team's lead with a well-worked try from a rolling maul. Flyhalf Jono Lance converted to give his team a 12-0 lead.

Morahan then scored the first of his two tries when he stepped brilliantly past the Dragons defence to sprint 55m for his try. Fullback Dane Haylett-Petty got the Force's fourth try before the Dragons got a try of their own just before half-time to make it 24-5 in favour of the home side.

The Force were the first to score in the second half when Morahan went over for his second try of the game.

The Dragons then fought their back into the game when Ben Nee-Nee got his team's second try. Chris Heiberg was then shown a yellow card and the Dragons took full advantage of the extra man to score another try and reduce the deficit to just ten points.

Replacement Junior Rasolea would ease the pressure on home side after he charged over in the corner to score his side's sixth try of the game.

It was the Dragons who would have the final say in the game with a converted try just before full-time to make the score line a little more respectable.

The scorers:

For Western Force:

Tries: Cottrell, Morahan 2, Hodgson, Haylett-Petty, Rasolea

Cons: Lance 2

For Asia Pacific Dragons:

Tries: Nee-Nee, May, Kinikinilau, Vaega

Cons: TBC

Teams:

Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Albert Nikoro, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Angus Cottrell, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Steve Mafi, 3 Guy Millar, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan. 

Replacements – from: Heath Tessmann, Chris Heiberg, Jermaine Ainsley, Ross Haylett-Petty, Chris Alcock, Richard Hardwick, Kane Koteka, Ian Prior, Peter Grant, Solomoni Rasolea, Ammon Matuauto, Semisi Masirewa, Maalonga Konelio, Rory Walton.

Asia Pacific Dragons squad: Pingi Talaapitaga, George Bower, Marcel Renata, Freddy Burke, Michael Lea, Gafa Su'a, Isaac Ross, Ben Nee-Nee, Adaam Ross, Pau Halafihi, Radike Samo, Sione Misiloi, Hadleigh May, Hale T-Pole, Jimmy Cowan, Ellery Wilson, Bryn Gatland, Latiume Fosita, Cardif Vaega, Seilala Mapusua, Roy Kinikinilau, Shannan Chase, Jojo Lilidamu, Junior Ngaluafe. 

Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)

Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Kyle Burnett (Australia)