Force off to a winning start
The Western Force got their 2015 pre-season underway on a positive note, beating the Brumbies 31-21 in Perth on Friday.
Outscoring the visitor by five tries to three, the Force will take heart from another impressive performance in beating a 2014 semifinalist - coming on the back of their eighth-place finish last year.
The other noteworthy aspect of the game is that David Pocock came through the match unscathed, scoring a try along the way.
Pocock was playing his first game with the Brumbies since injuring his knee and undergoing a second knee reconstruction in as many years - an injury that ended his 2014 season early.
Marcel Brache got the host on the front foot early when he scooted down the sideline and flicked the ball inside, but it was knocked forward right on the line.
However, minutes later a beautiful toe-tap from Kyle Godwin bounced perfectly for Luke Morahan and he ran it over. Zack Holmes added the extras.
The Brumbies were penalised for sealing off, but Sias Ebersohn's attempt at goal was off to the right - leaving the Force with a 7-0 at the first quarter drinks break.
In that period the majority of possession went to the home team and play was in the Brumbies half.
Soon after the restart Chris Alcock picked up the loose ball off the line-out and ran 30 metres to score.
The Brumbies were then down to 14 men, with Tom Staniforth sent to the bin.
Marcel Brache scores the third try for the hosts, as he ran in at the corner with the overlap. There was another failed conversion attempt, but the Force had a 17-0 lead.
Just before half-time David Pocock scored for the visitors off the back of the rolling maul. Rod Iona slotted the extras and the hosts took a 17-7 lead into the break.
Early in the second half the Force were on the wrong side of the law and it allowed the Brumbies to control possession.
Christian Lealiifano evaded the defence and scored their second try - allowing the gap to close to 14-17, which is how it stayed to the third quarter drinks break.
Soon after the restart Wilhelm Steenkamp barged his way over and Holmes slotted the conversion to make it 24-14.
Holmes was the creator for the next try, with a quick pass inside to Mitch Scott and the latter scored his first try in a Force jersey. The conversion made it 31-14.
Steenkamp was yellow carded late in the half and with time virtually up on the clock a great rolling maul saw Josh Mann-Rea get an armchair ride over the line - making the final score 31-21 to the hosts.
The scorers:
Western Force:
Tries: Morahan, Alcock, Brache, Steenkamp, Scott
Cons: Holmes 2, Ebersohn
Brumbies:
Tries: Pocock, Lealiifano, Mann-Rea
Cons: Iona 3
Yellow cards: Tom Staniforth (Brumbies), Wilhelm Steenkamp (Western Force)
Teams:
Western Force squad: Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner, Oliver Hoskins, Francois van Wyk, Robbie Abel, Nathan Charles, Heath Tessmann, Adam Coleman, Steve Mafi, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes, Chris Alcock, Angus Cottrell, Ross Haylett-Petty, Kane Koteka, Brynard Stander, Alby Mathewson, Ian Prior, Sias Ebersohn, Zack Holmes, Marcel Brache, Brad Lacey, Luke Morahan, Mitchell Scott, Luke Burton, Kyle Godwin, Ammon Matuauto, Solomoni Rasolea, Patrick Dellit, Dane Haylett-Petty.
Brumbies squad: Nigel Ah Wong, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Fotu Auelua, Jarrad Butler, Robbie Coleman, James Dargaville, Michael Dowsett, Sean Doyle, Blake Enever, Rod Iona, Jerome Niumata, Christian Leali'ifano, Josh Mann-Rea, David Pocock, Scott Sio, Jordan Smiler, Jean-Pierre Smith, Ruan Smith, Henry Speight, Tom Staniforth, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Mitch Wade, Nic White.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant referees: Rob Kellam, Alex Ninkov
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