Western Force edge Western Province XV in Stellenbosch
MATCH REPORT: The Western Force concluded their three-match South African tour with a last-gasp 34-33 victory over a WP XV outfit at the Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The visitors were victorious by the narrowest of margins with both sides scoring five tries in perfect conditions at the Markotter Stadium, with a late successful Coby Miln penalty attempt clinching the victory.
Western Province XV showed great fight to reclaim the lead after being down by 19-31 before Miln slotted the deciding kick with minutes to spare as the Force hung on for the result.
The Force were quickly out of the blocks to a 12-0 lead before the hosts came back to hold a 14-12 lead at the break, following a yellow card to prop Harry Hoopert.
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The Force’s tries came from Tom Horton, George Poolman, Will Harris and Harry Potter along with a penalty-try before the late drama.
It was a chaotic match which included a yellow card on both sides along with a red card in the second-half to Western Province for a high tackle on George Poolman.
The Force took an early 5-0 lead through a try by hooker Horton after which flyhalf Miln’s conversion attempt struck the uprights.
Western Province managed to put the Force under intense pressure in the following 10 minutes, with the Force defence showing resolve and determination to keep the hosts at bay.
The Force thought they had another score when Miln’s cross-field kick found Max Grealy in space to set Harris up for the try, but the referee called them back for a forward pass.
Wing Poolman, however extended the Force’s lead with an intercept try with Miln adding the extras for a 12-0 lead.
Western Province immediately got one back through a penalty-try as Hoopert was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
The extra player on the pitch boosted the hosts who bagged another converted try to take a 14-12 lead into the break.
The visitors started the second-half much like the first as they jumped out the blocks with Harris reclaiming the lead to 17-14.
Western Province were down to 14 players for the rest of the match following a dangerous tackle on Poolman who was stretched off the field following the incident.
The Force used their numerical advantage and crossed the line twice through a maul penalty-try with the hosts recieving a yellow card and going down to 13 players and centre Harry Potter going over for a 31-19 lead.
Western Province showed great fight to reclaim the lead with two converted tries before Miln’s decisive penalty kick to clinch victory for the Force.
The scorers:
For the Force:
Tries: Horton, Poolman, Harris, Potter, Penalty-try does not require a conversion.
Cons: Miln 2
Pen: Miln
Western Force: 15 Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 George Poolman, 13 Ronan Leahy, 12 Divad Palu, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Coby Miln, 9 Henry Robertson (captain), 8 Will Harris, 7 Dane Sawers, 6 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Josh Thompson, 3 Tiann Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Albert Alcock, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Doug Philipson, 22 Harry Potter, 23 Justin Landman.
Image credits:Western Force Instagram
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