Western Force have opened their 2010 Super 14 campaign with a 24-15 loss at the hands of the Brumbies at ME Bank Stadium in Perth tonight.
On a night when Brumbies veteran Stirling Mortlock passed 1000 career points in Super Rugby, the ACT side scored three tries to none to secure their first win over the Force since 2007.
Not even an outstanding display from Man of the Match, James O’Connor, could get his team over the line.
O’Connor kicked five penalties from his six attempts, regularly gained plenty of territory with his raking punts, and was electric with ball in hand.
Injury hit the home side both before and during the game. Cameron Shepherd was a late withdrawal after feeling tightness in his quadriceps during the warm-up.
Haig Sare, who was called into the 22-man squad when Mark Bartholomeusz pulled out of the squad today, took Shepherd’s position on the left wing. Richard Brown was replaced in the second half after suffering an apparent arm injury.
The boys in blue defended stoutly, especially during the second half, as the Brumbies dominated territory and possession after the break.
Former Force scrumhalf Josh Valentine opened the scoring in the 11th minute, when he finished a brilliant breakout instigated by front rowers Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander, with George Smith throwing the final pass while lying on the grass.
James O’Connor responded for the home side, slotting a penalty to narrow the gap to 7-3.
Another piercing run from the ruck base led to Moore strolling over untouched from 25m out. Mortlock’s conversion gave him exactly 1000 career Super Rugby points, and gave his side a 14-3 lead.
O’Connor again cut the margin, with his three penalty goals – each from more than 30m out – taking the score to 14-12, and it remained that way when referee Steve Walsh blew the half time whistle.
Mortlock opened the scoring in the second half when he made Nathan Sharpe pay for his infringement at the ruck by kicking the subsequent penalty. O’Connor responded with his fifth penalty ten minutes later to make the score 17-15.
A sweeping move down the left hand side by the Brumbies was finished by replacement Huia Edmonds, who bumped off a tackler before crashing over. Mortlock’s conversion took his points tally for the match to nine, and his career tally to 1005.
O’Connor, Matt Hodgson, Sharpe and new vice-captain David Pocock performed strongly for the home side, while the visitors were well served by Adam Ashley-Cooper, Moore, Alexander and Matt Toomua.
The Western Force will now travel to Wellington to play the Hurricanes on Saturday, 20 February.
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