'Tahs too strong for Force
The Waratahs stormed up to third place in the Super 14 table with an impressive 17-12 win over the Western Force.
Last Updated: 12/04/08 3:27pm
The Waratahs stormed up to third place in the Super 14 table with an impressive 17-12 win over the Western Force at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
In a game dominated by the home side it was Lachlan Turner who crossed the line for the 'Tahs 10 minutes from time for what proved to be the decisive score.
There was more misery for Force as star fly-half Matt Giteau left the field on a stretcher on 20 minutes after coming off worst during a collision with Sam Norton-Knight.
Force dominated the majority of the first half, but to the frustration of the home fans they failed to turn their possession into points as the 'Tahs defence held firm.
The opening try of the game was scored by rookie centre Rob Horne, who went over for his first try for the club to cancel out earlier penalties from Giteau, and two from the boot of stand-in kicker Cameron Shepherd.
Horne latched onto Kurtley Beale's neat pass just before the interval to crash over the line from close range.
Lacking inspiration
Despite Beale missing the resulting conversion, it was the visitors who went into the break the happier as they held a slender 10-9 lead.
Shepherd hit the crossbar with a penalty 10 minutes into the second half, and finally gave Force the lead at 12-10 for the first time on the hour mark
With both side's lacking inspiration it was Lote Tuqiri who set up the winning move, although not quite how he would have liked.
The Australia international accelerated onto the ball at pace, but with no gap in the line to tear through, he opted for a grubber kick.
Shepherd stuck out a boot to intercept and the ball flew up into the midriff of Turner, who held on and gratefully dived under the posts.
Beale's cool conversion ensured that the Force needed at least a try to claim all the points, but 'Tahs hung on and soared further up the table.
