Cheetahs feel the Force
Western Force secured their first win of the season with a battling 16-10 victory over the Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval on Friday.
Last Updated: 20/02/09 2:06pm
Western Force secured their first win of the season with a battling 16-10 victory over the Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval on Friday.
Both sides scored one try apiece, however the boot of Wallaby fly-half Matt Giteau and some ferocious tackling proved the difference as Force bounced back from their narrow defeat to the Blues.
"We're just happy to get away with that one," Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe said.
"It was just a good effort from our boys to be under pressure (and win)."
Giteau opened the scoring after nine minutes with a successful penalty, and the No.10 was then on hand to add the conversion after James O'Conner had scored.
The 18-year-old centre had sidestepped his way through the Cheetahs defence - which missed 24 tackles overall in the match - on 33 minutes to help the home side into the lead.
However the Cheetahs, who had two tries disallowed by the TMO, cut the deficit just two minutes later when Fabian Julies kicked through for fellow winger Danwel Demas to fly-hack the ball over the line and score.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter converted, but ill-discipline allowed Force to enter the break 13-7 up, with Giteau landing his second penalty.
Things got worse for the Cheetahs when prop Wiaan du Preez sin-binned in the second half, and the home side took advantage of the extra man when Giteau landed a drop goal.
Potgieter replied with a 45-metre penalty in the 62nd minute to cut the lead to six points, however the effort proved to be little more than a consolation efforts as Force held out for the win.
"If the game was 70 minutes we'd be an unbelievable team," Cheetahs skipper Juan Smith said.
"Last year we made the same mistakes, we only played for 70 minutes. But there are still a lot of positives to take out of this game and we know we need to go back out and work on them."
