Waratahs (NSW)

Emirates Western Force

The Emirates Western Force have registered its first competition point of 2010 but couldn’t quite secure a deserved victory in a hard fought yet ultimately gut-wrenching 14-10 loss to the Waratahs at ME Bank Stadium in Perth tonight.

The Force were camped on the Waratahs line during the final stages of the game and continually threatened to cross for what would have been the game winning try, however they were unable to break through a stubborn NSW defence despite some lung busting efforts down the stretch.

In what turned into an old fashioned arm-wrestle typical of most Australian derbies, each side scored one try, although the Force threatened numerous times to the delight of the enthusiastic home supporters.

The Waratahs opened the scoring in just the second minute when Berrick Barnes slotted a straight forward penalty goal after home side was called for offside.

James O’Connor responded when the Tahs were penalized for obstruction to level the score at 3-all.

The visitors were first to put their names on the try scoring sheet when former Force flyer Drew Mitchell latched onto a left-foot grubber from Daniel Halangahu to finish in the left corner. Barnes couldn’t convert, giving the sky blues an 8-3 lead.

The Force hit the front when veteran speedster Scott Staniforth rushed out of the line to intercept a Barnes pass and race 60m to score under the posts, before O’Connor’s conversion made it 10-8.

The second half almost began with a second intercept try, as Ryan Cross snaffled a Barnes pass before offloading to David Hill, who was brought down shy of the line.

It was the NSW side that eventually scored first after the break when Daniel Halangahu kicked the simplest of penalties to regain a slender 11-10 lead.

A second penalty to Halangahu gave the Waratahs a 14-10 lead and, despite a frantic finish, that was how it remained when Jaco Peyper blew the full time whistle.

The Emirates Western Force will host the Bulls next Saturday night at ME Bank Stadium in week seven of the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14.

BY THE CLOCK

2^nd min – Penalty Goal kicked by Berrick Barnes. Waratahs lead 3-0.

10^th min – Penalty Goal kicked by James O’Connor. 3-all

16^th min – Try to the Waratahs scored by Drew Mitchell. Not converted. Waratahs lead 8-3.

25^th min – Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Scott Staniforth. Converted by O’Connor. Emirates Western Force lead 10-8.

38^th min – Tom Hockings replaces Sam Wykes

HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Waratahs 8

56th min – Penalty Goal kicked by Daniel Halangahu. Waratahs lead 11-10.

62^nd min – Mitch Inman replaces Scott Staniforth.

65^th min – Penalty Goal kicked by Halangahu. Waratahs lead 14-10.

66^th min – Ben Whittaker replaces Ryan Tyrrell.

68^th min – Chris O’Young replaces Matt Hodgson (blood).

69^th min – Kieran Longbottom replaces Nic Henderson. Hodgson replaces Brett Sheehan (blood return).

FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Waratahs 14

Emirates Western Force 10 (Staniforth try; O’Connor 1/1 con, 1/2 pen, Sheehan 0/1 pens)

Waratahs 14 (Mitchell try; Barnes 0/1 con, 1/3 pen, Halangahu 2/2 pen)