Force slay the Dragons
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The Western Force have completed their pre-season campaign with a 38-19 win over the Asia Pacific Dragons at McGillivray Oval.
The home side led at every stage, leading 26-7 at half-time through four tries to Luke Morahan, Chris Alcock, Marcel Brache and Pek Cowan.
In what was an end-to-end, physical encounter the visitors clawed their way back in the second term, before the home side closed out the match with two tries in the final 20 minutes to run out 19 point victors.
It all began with a fantastic cross-kick from South African flyhalf Sias Ebersohn who landed the ball perfectly in Brache's hands for the first score of the game.
Ebersohn added the conversion.
It was Haylett-petty's turn to do some providing as his grubber was gathered by Alby Mathewson who offloaded to Godwin for the second score.
Morahan got his name on the score sheet after some good work through the backs saw him over in the corner.
The forwards then got involved in a rolling maul to see Cowan over for a try.
The Dragons finally managed to claw their way back through Peter Samu who got a try just before halftime with Michael Little adding the conversion.
Little then managed to cross the whitewash with a score of his own just after the halftime break as the Dragons continued their resurgence.
Another Dragons try, this time from Aki Seiuli, saw the visitors closing in on the Super Rugby team but Robbie Abel soon changed things around as he ducked past the opposition to get the Force another try.
Finally Luke Holmes finished the match with one last score for the men from Perth as they rounded out the game 38-19.
Scorers:
For the Western Force:
Tries: Brache, Godwin, Morahan, Cowan, Abel, Holmes
Cons: Ebersohn 4
For Asia Pacific Dragons:
Tries: Samu, Little, Seiuli
Cons: Little, Faiva
Teams:
Western Force squad:
Forwards: Pek Cowan, Tetera Faulkner, Chris Heiberg, Joe Savage, Robbie Abel, Nathan Charles, Steve Mafi, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Rory Walton, Sam Wykes, Angus Cottrell, Richard Hardwick, Matt Hodgson, Ross Haylett-Petty, Kane Koteka, Ben McCalman.
Backs: Alby Mathewson, Ryan Louwrens, Flyhalf: Luke Burton, Sias Ebersohn, Centre: Patrick Dellit, Kyle Godwin, Ammon Matuauto, Solomoni Rasolea, Wing: Marcel Brache, Brad Lacey, Luke Morahan, Mitchell Scott, Fullback: Dane Haylett-Petty, Albert Nikoro
Asia Pacific Dragons: 15 Willy Walker, 14 Shannon Chase, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Karl Ropati, 11 Afa Fa'atau, 10 Michael Little, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Matt Vaai, 7 Tony Lamborn, 6 Peter Samu, 5 Gerard Tuloti-Mariner, 4 Michael Stolberg, 3 Taniela Koroi, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements – from: Seilala Lam, Sam Aiono, Solomona Sakalia, Hale T-Pole, Onosai Auva'a, Kurt Davies, James Faiva, Tu Umaga Marshall, Fa'autu Tuaimalo.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Rob Kellam, Pat Davis
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