Force too strong for Waratahs
Australia's hopes of a team in the Super 14 semi-finals suffered another blow on Saturday as the Western Force beat the Waratahs 15-14.
Last Updated: 18/04/09 2:22pm
Australia's hopes of having a team in the Super 14 semi-finals suffered another blow on Saturday when the Western Force beat the Waratahs 15-14.
The result gives the Force a 'grand slam' of wins over Australian opposition this year as the Waratahs slumped to their second home defeat in as many weeks.
Tries from wings Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd proved to be enough for the visitors at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The home side squandered a number of opportunities to score with far too many passes going to ground.
The Waratahs would have considered themselves a touch lucky to be leading 6-0 after twenty minutes thanks to two penalties from fly-half Daniel Halangahu.
The Force had done most of the early playing and were twice denied sure tries by narrow touchline decisions.
Marginal
And, when three marginal decisions at the ruck went against them, they found themselves trailing 9-0 after half an hour.
Matt Giteau reduced the lead with a well-taken kick after Phil Waugh broke off the scrum too early.
And Cameron Shepherd had a chance to further reduce the lead from long range on the stroke of half-timem, but the winger's effort sailed wide.
Despite being a man down the home side did well to dominate the early stages of the second half, but even when back to XV men they could not stop the Force from scoring the first try
Josh Valentine taking a free-kick quickly, chipped ahead for Shepherd who ran in for a five-pointer against his former team-mates.
Giteau's conversion put the visitors in front but only briefly as the 'Tahs struck right back when Brett Sheehan's pass found Lachie Turner in space out wide.
Agonising
The wing skirted the touchline before finding Caldwell on his shoulder and the big lock used his refreshed legs to power over.
The Force regained the lead with fourteen minutes left on the clock, thanks to some crisp passing from Giteau and O'Connor to find Staniforth on the touchline.
This time he kept his feet well clear of the whitewash and the TMO confirmed the touch down in the corner. Giteau's conversion hit the post to leave the Force up 15-14.
The Force fly-half was wide of the target again a few minutes later when Wycliff Palu was pinged for a high tackle, setting up an agonising finish for the Waratahs fans.
But the 'Tahs handling would let them down once again, handing the Force a win that will go a long way to erasing the heartache of last week's defeat to the Hurricanes.
For the Waratahs, a tough trip to South Africa awaits as away wins are now non-negotiable.
