Blues feel the Force
Western Force put the woes of the previous week's collapse behind them on Saturday with a superb 27-17 Super 14 win over the Blues.
Last Updated: 15/03/08 10:11am
Western Force put the woes of the previous week's collapse behind them on Saturday with a superb 27-17 Super 14 win over the Blues in Albany.
Well-taken tries by Anthony Tuitavake and Tony Woodcock in the first half gave the Blues what looked to be a decisive advantage, but the New Zealanders could not make that advantage count in the second half, and with Matt Giteau in fine form, the Force hit back.
The first half belonged to the Blues. They had well over 60 per cent of the territory and a good 60 per cent of the possession.
Despite an early flourish from the Force, it was Tuitavake who made the first telling break, and from then on it was one-way traffic, so it was no surprise when Woodcock finally bustled over the line.
There was a wonderful ebb and flow to the Blue tide in the first half. They would tear forward, every one of their vaunted backs making yards at some point or other.
The Force back row, and the back three, tackled magnificently though, and the turnovers came. Counter attacks were launched. The game was all about attack - the new laws being adhered to in spirit as well as in whistle.
Magnificent
Eventually a team broke through decisively, and it was the visitors who drew level, Cameron Shepherd taking advantage of a tired-looking Blues defence to scythe through three tackles and score between the sticks. Giteau made no mistake from the tee and it was 7-7.
Ben Atiga took over the kicking duties from the injured Nick Evans, slotting a penalty before converting Tuitavake's magnificent try - the big winger speeding onto an offload and beating the Force defence for sheer pace to see the Blues into a 17-7 at the break.
It took the Force 20 minutes to register the score they needed to get in touch after the interval, but by that point the game was already swung.
The Blues, collectively, looked punch-drunk and slow. The back-row was struggling to get around to breakdowns, the backs' lines were out of kilter and the scrum was suffering.
Giteau landed a penalty for offside on 58 minutes, and then came the try to level the scores.
Giteau floated a wonderful pass 30m across the field for No.8 Richard Brown to exploit the space and score. Giteau converted to level the scores, and then gave his side the lead with another penalty a couple of minutes later.
Tamaiti Horua rounded off the scoring as Giteau - with Drew Mitchell's able assistance - once again stretched the tired Blues defence too thin, and again converted, before the Force pack closed things out.
