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Force end their duck

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:00

Eight points with the boot: the Force's James O'Connor

The Western Force won their first game of the Super 14 season when they beat the Stormers 16-15 in dramatic fashion, through a David Hill drop-goal in injury time.

The victory was achieved against a lethargic, out-of-sorts Stormers team, playing by some way their worst game of their season in Round Eight after a run of good performances in their first six matches.

It was Hill's first ever drop-goal in Super Rugby, but as Force captain Nathan Sharpe said, they will take the win however it came.

And the Force just about deserved their win in this scrappy, lacklustre game.

Those present at the ME Bank Stadium in Perth will have been delighted with their team's win but there was little to enthuse about in the rugby played and it is only Hill's winning drop-goal - and the Force's first win - that was truly memorable.

In the fourth minute, the Force were penalised at a ruck just outside their 22 and 10 metres in from touch and Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant, taking over the goal-kicking from the injured Joe Pietersen, slotted the penalty-goal to put the visitors 3-0 up.

The Force struck back with their best try in some time, when from just inside the Stormers half, centre Mitch Inman, wing Mark Bartholomeusz and fullback James O'Connor ripped the Stormers defence apart, moving far left and then back towards midfield to set up flank David Pocock for a wonderful try.

The Stormers appeared momentarily stunned, O'Connor converted and the home team led 7-3 after 14 minutes.

When at last the Stormers began to show little glimpses of the rhythm of their previous matches, they enjoyed a rare raid into the Force 22 and in the 26th minute the home team were penalised for not rolling away at a tackle. Grant goaled and the lead had been reduced to 7-6.

Just before the half-time whistle, O'Connor missed his second penalty goal attempt and the home team went into the break with a one-point lead.

For the first time in the season, the Stormers defence had looked vulnerable and they were fortunate to be down by a single point at the break - fortunate because the Force had enjoyed a territorial advantage and a majority of possession but had messed up a few promising try-scoring opportunities.

The Stormers had been displaying minimal continuity on attack as well, unable to build phases, and there and been precious few moments of individual flair. Unforced errors by normally skilful players cost them dearly too. Not even their usually accurate kicking game had been effective.

Composure under pressure had been one of the hallmarks of the Stormers successful first of the Super 14, but the Force had managed to rattle that composure in the first 40 minutes.

The Force had played with passion and intensity, putting the Stormers under pressure, making 54 tackles, and conceding only three penalties to the six given away by the visitors.

The Stormers second half started as their first half finished - making uncharacteristic errors.

The Force attacked strongly early in the half but the Stormers were rescued inside their 22 by a great steal by flank Francois Louw.

Five minutes into the half the visitors had their best chance to score a try but right wing Sireli Naqelevuki failed to finish what the Stormers had created and the opportunity was lost.

The Stormers took the lead in the 49th minute when the Force were penalised at breakdown and Grant goaled an angled penalty (9-7).

But when the visitors conceded three consecutive penalties, O'Connor regained the lead for the Force from the third of those with a penalty-goal from 43 metres out (10-9).

From the Stormers fourth consecutive penalty conceded, David Hill missed a long-range penalty attempt, the third Force penalty shot at posts fluffed.

A superbly-struck penalty-goal by Grant from 40 metres out and close to touch in the 62nd minute gave the Stormers a 12-10 lead.

The Stormers were gaining a little bit of rhythm on attack, helped by the substitution of Ricky Januarie by Dewaldt Duvenage at scrumhalf, but Naqelevuki gifted the Force a turnover inside their 22. Moments later Schalk Burger tackled high and the Stormers were penalised.

The rhythm had been lost, Burger was cautioned, O'Connor goaled and with 15 minutes to go the Force led 13-12.

In the 68th minute the Force, under pressure near their goal-line, were pinged for side entry at a ruck and Grant took his goal-kicking in the game to five from five to give the visitors a 15-13 lead.

The Stormers had a great chance to score when they ran from inside their 22 but with support and space on his outside, Andries Bekker threw a horrible pass and the movement died.

The Force then attacked with desperation but the Stormers defence held.

With two minutes to play, Hill had a chance to kick a winning penalty for the Force from just inside the Stormers half but couldn't reach the posts.

But Hill, a New Zealander contracted late by the Force after marquee signing André Pretorius cried off through injury, was to have the last say.

After the hooter a composed Force retained possession from a scrum free kick awarded against the Stormers. Matt Hodgson committed defenders and the home team set up a perfect platform for Hill to notch the winning points with a neatly struck drop-goal from 36 metres out (16-15).

This was the Force's first win of the season, their first win over the Stormers in Perth, and their first-ever victory at their new home venue, the ME Bank Stadium.

The Stormers had ended up with a narrow majority of possession but they had conceded 13 penalties and 2 free kicks to the Force's seven penalties and two free kicks, and none of their strengths - other than accurate goal-kicking - which had carried them to such success this year had been to the fore in this game.

Not even the driving mauls from line-outs or their kicking game or kick-chase or phase-building and continuity were impressive. They conceded a try and scored none. They created a few times on attack and finished nothing.

The systems which have yielded such results this year were found wanting, because the players' execution was inadequate on the day and even established international players were off their game, making unforced errors.

The Force also made more errors than they would have liked, also not finishing what they created and missing goal-kicks which would have given then a bigger margin of victory.

But they will rejoice in their first victory of the year - a reward for sticking to their game-plan and specifically, of simply staying focused on their goal of restricting the Stormers continuity, of responding to Stormers kicks by counter-attacking or returning kicks, and of stopping the driving maul in its tracks.

The Force's retention of possession was effective and they gained good momentum by running at the Stormers. They didn't fall into the trap of other teams of allowing the Stormers to push them into lateral movement on attack.

Most of all they remained composed and played an in-your-face game, keeping the Stormers under pressure and making their tackles.

In the end they achieved a Super 14 victory which they've been close to for a while and have now eventually gained.

Man of the Match: It is unlikely that any Stormers player will have come off the field particularly happy with his game, and more than a few will be disappointed with their performances. Peter Grant's accurate goal-kicking was a highlight, but little else. For the Force it was a mammoth team effort and invidious as it is to single out individuals, one would be remiss in not mentioning skipper Nathan Sharpe, openside flank David Pocock and the undoubted star of the game, Force No.8 Matt Hodgson, who was not only the most effective ball carrier on the field but was also superb in every way on attack and defence. Wallaby coach Robbie Deans must have noted Hodgson's performance with approval.

The scorers:

For the Western Force:
Try: Pocock
Con: O'Connor
Pens: O'Connor 2
DG: Hill

For the Stormers:
Pens: Grant 5

Teams:

Western Force: 5 James O'Connor, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Mark Bartholomeusz, 10 David Hill, 9 Chris O'Young, 8 Matt Hodgson, 7 David Pocock, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Richard Stanford, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Haig Sare.

Stormers: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Sireli Naqelevuki, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 François Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Willem de Waal, 22 Frikkie Welsh

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
TMO: Matthew Goddard (Australia)

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