Match Details
Venue
QueenstownKick Off Time
2:30pm (local), Saturday, 10 April 2010Emirates Western Force
Highlanders (NZ)
VERSUS
41
27
Full Time
FORCE RUN IN SIX TRIES TO BEAT HIGHLANDERS
The Emirates Western Force has won its second straight Investec Bank Super 14 match by running in six tries to beat the Highlanders 41-27 in Queenstown on Saturday.
Taking confidence from last weeks thrilling home win over the Stormers, the Emirates Western Force recorded a bonus-point for four or more tries for the first time this season on the way to the impressive 14-point win.
Ryan Cross and the returning Cameron Shepherd scored two tries each, with James O'Connor and Justin Turner adding five-pointers for the Emirates Western Force.
Emirates Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe was delighted with the victory as his team got better the longer the game went.
"We started a little bit slowly and it was an adjustment to play against a New Zealand side again. We did that towards the end and got the result for it," Sharpe said.
"We knew that if we could hold onto the ball we would put some points on the board and that's what we did towards the end of the game. We are now looking forward to playing the Bulls in Auckland.”
The Highlanders opened the scoring with a Matthew Berquist penalty and looked likely to score the game's opening try until a brilliant defensive play from David Pocock denied the home team. Highlanders' winger Fetu'u Vainikolo looked certain to score with no one in front of him but Pocock came from nowhere to lay the tackle and knock the ball free.
O'Connor missed a penalty attempt to give the Force a chance to level the scores before Berquist made no mistake for the Highlanders to extend the home team's lead to six.
However, the game turned when Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan was penalised with a yellow card for getting involved from an offside position to lay a professional foul. Just minutes later, Shepherd made the perfect return to the game after a frustrating injury run.
From a scrum, Richard Brown got the ball to Chris O'Young and Shepherd went straight for the line and in a tackle was able to ground the ball and get it over the line.
It was the 31st try of his Super Rugby career as he racked up 350 points in the competition. O'Connor then converted to record his 100th point as well as the Emirates Western Force led 7-6.
The fireworks continued before half-time when Emirates Western Force prop Pek Cowan and Highlanders big man Clint Newland got involved in a scuffle. Both were then yellow-carded with five minutes to go in the half.
Force hooker Ben Whittaker appeared to cross for a try at the 38-minute mark but was denied as the replay revealed he didn’t properly ground the ball.
The Force again took advantage of some indiscipline from the Highlanders to earn a penalty after 40 minutes as O'Connor nailed the kick see the visitors take a deserving 10-6 lead at the half.
The Highlanders started the second half strongly with a penalty conversion to Berquist and then try to prop Chris King to lead 14-10 before the Force got back in front with a fantastic O’Connor try. A clever kick from David Hill was collected by the young full-back who brought the ball to ground in spectacular fashion. While he missed the conversion the Emirates Western Force still led 15-14.
The Highlanders responded quickly and it was No. 8 Steven Setephano who put them back in front in the 51st minute to see the home side lead 19-15.
A committed effort from the Force paid dividends and following nine phases the Highlanders defence broke as Cross stormed through for the West Australian’s third try of the game. O'Connor missed the conversion but the visitors took back the lead 20-19.
After another penalty for the Highlanders the Emirates Western Force broke through for a bonus-point try after a great play from the lineout. The ball ended up with Sam Harris who made a great run and he dished off to Pocock who made a big break and finished the play to Turner who crossed for his first Super 14 try.
O'Connor converted to put the Force up 27-22 and the visitors sealed the win when Cross waltzed through for his second try after some quality play from the scrum in the 75th minute.
Shepherd added icing to the cake with his second try which was set up from a brilliant pass from Hill. O'Connor converted and the score was 41-22. A late try for the Highlanders to Vainikolo got them closer but the result was beyond doubt.
The Emirates Western Force remains in New Zealand to face the Blues in Auckland next Saturday before returning to ME Bank Stadium to play the Crusaders.
BY THE CLOCK
10th min – Penalty goal to the Highlanders' Matthew Berquist. Highlanders lead 3-0.
16th min - James O'Connor misses penalty attempt for Emirates Western Force. Highlanders lead 3-0 still.
20th min - Matthew Berquist penalty goal. Highlanders lead 6-0.
22nd min - Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan yellow carded for professional foul from offside position.
27th min - Emirates Western Force winger Cameron Shepherd grounds ball for the first try of the game. O'Connor converts to see the Emirates Western Force lead 7-6.
30th min - Matthew Berquist misses penalty for Highlanders. Emirates Western Force lead 7-6.
35th min - Emirates Western Force prop Pek Cowan and the Highlanders' Clint Newland receive yellow cards for exchanging punches.
41st min - Emirates Western Force fullback James O'Connor nails a penalty to see the Force lead 10-6.
HALF TIME: Emirates Western Force 10 Highlanders 6
41st min – Matthew Berquist kicks a penalty for the Highlanders. The Emirates Western Force still lead 10-9.
44th min - Try for the Highlanders to Chris King. Matthew Berquist misses the conversion as the Highlanders lead 14-10.
48th min - Emirates Western Force try to James O'Connor. He misses the conversion and the Force leads 15-14.
51st min - Try to the Highlanders for Steven Setephano. Matthew Berquist misses the conversion as the Highlanders lead 19-15.
56th min - Matt Dunning replaces Tim Fairbrother for the Emirates Western Force.
57th min - Ben McCalman replaces Tom Hockings, Nathan Charles replaces Ben Whittaker and Justin Turner replaces Chris O'Young for the Emirates Western Force.
59th min - Sam Harris replaces Mitch Inman for the Emirates Western Force.
61st min - Ryan Cross scores a try for the Emirates Western Force. James O'Connor misses the conversion as the Force lead 20-19.
64th min - Penalty conversion for the Highlanders to Matthew Berquist. The Highlanders lead 22-20.
69th min - A bonus-point try for the Emirates Western Force to Justin Turner. Conversion by James O'Connor and the Force lead 27-22.
75th min - A second try for Ryan Cross for the Emirates Western Force. James O'Connor converts and the Force lead 34-22.
79th min - Cameron Shepherd scores his second try for the Emirates Western Force. O'Connor converts and Force lead 41-22.
80th min - Dane Haylett-Petty replaces James O'Connor, Sam Wykes replaces Nathan Sharpe.
81st min - Try for the Highlanders to Fetu'u Vainikolo.
FULL TIME:
Emirates Western Force 41 (Cross 2, Shepherd 2, O'Connor, Turner tries; O’Connor 4/6 con, 1/2 pen)
Highlanders 27 (King, Setephano, Vainikolo tries; Berquist 0/3 con, Berquist 4/4 pen)
