Force demolish Samoa A
The Western Force eased into their pre-season build-up with a runaway 69-3 win over Samoa A in Perth on Friday.
As a gentle training run to shake off some cobwebs the game served a purpose, but the quality – or lack thereof – of the opposition meant the home team was not really tested.
The Force shared their 11 tries throughout the team, with new recruit Luke Morahan the only multiple try scorer – touching down for two tries from fullback.
The home side was provided with continual front-foot ball on the back of countless barnstorming runs from No.8s Ben McCalman and Brynard Stander, while inside centre Kyle Godwin continued to put his side within attacking range through a number of incisive runs down the left hand side.
Running into a stiff first-half breeze, the Western Force amounted a 19-3 lead after the first two quarters before accelerating through the back half of the match, touching down for another eight tries.
In blustery conditions and in front of a 2,000-strong crowd, it was the Samoans who drew first blood through a Ki Anufe penalty goal.
However, it would be the last time the Force would concede points with No.8 Ben McCalman putting scrumhalf Alby Mathewson over for his side’s first try of 2014 on the stroke of quarter time.
A long range counter attack, started and finished by fullback Jayden Hayward, and an unstoppable McCalman run from the back of a tighthead scrum extended the Force’s lead to 19-3 at the half-time break.
While coach Michael Foley opted to make a series of changes at the interval, it did nothing to stop his side’s momentum with the Force scrum drawing an early penalty try, Ed Stubbs and Pek Cowan both crossing, and a rampant Stander helping to set up Patrick Dellit with the winger scoring untouched in the corner.
Leading by 42 points leading into the final quarter, the Force completed the rout with Morahan’s double, Stander dotting down from the back of the scrum and young outside back Dylan Sage showing significant pace to run around the Samoan defence and score under the posts.
The Force will complete their pre-season preparations against the Pampas XV next Friday.
The scorers:
For the Western Force:
Tries: Morahan 2, Mathewson, Hayward, McCalman, Stubbs, Cowan, Dellit, Stander, Sage, penalty try
Cons: Hayward 2, Holmes 3, Ebersohn 2
For Samoa A:
Pen: Anufe
Teams:
Western Force: Robbie Abel, Chris Alcock, Phoenix Battye, Marcel Brache, Nathan Charles, Angus Cottrell, Pek Cowan, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Sias Ebersohn, Tetera Faulkner, Kyle Godwin, Richard Hardwick (RugbyWA Academy), Jayden Hayward, Matt Hodgson (captain), Zack Holmes, Ollie Hoskins, Dillyn Leyds, Kieran Longbottom, Ryan Louwrens, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Luke Morahan, Ian Prior, Junior Rasolea, Dylan Sage, Brynard Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Ed Stubbs, Heath Tessmann, Corey Thomas (RugbyWA Academy), Chris Tuatara-Morrison, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes.
Samoa A: Not available
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Kyle Burnett (Australia)
