Western Force vs Brumbies: Super Rugby live scores, blog

 
Brett McKay Columnist

By , 30 Jun 2012 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert

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    LIVE SCORES

    Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW

    Western Force Vs. ACT Brumbies

    2012 Super Rugby Tournament, 30 June, 2012
    nib Stadium, Perth, WA
    ACT Brumbies 28 defeated Western Force 17
    Western Force ACT Brumbies
    17 FINAL SCORE 28
    3 TRIES 4
    1/3 CONVERSION KICKS 1/4
    0/0 PENALTY GOALS 2/2
    0/0 DROP GOAL 0/0
     
    Top scorers:
    • Western Force - Cummins
    • N 10pts (2T)
    Important moments:
    • Brumbies took the lead at the 3 min. mark 1st half
    • Holmes, Z (BRUM) penalty goal at the 73 min. mark 2nd half
     
    Referee: I Smith
    Touch judges: J Leckie & E Martin
    Sports Highlights

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    Super Rugby resumes with inter-conference derbies, the second Australian game featuring the Western Force hosting the Australian Conference-leading Brumbies tonight in Perth, in a match of significance for both sides. We will have live scores and updates with kick off at 7.40pm EST.

    For the Force, it’s all about farewelling their foundation captain, Nathan Sharpe.

    ‘Sharpie’ played 70 matches for his native Queensland Reds from 1998 to 2004, before he shocked Australian Rugby to head west and play become a vital cog in the creation of what was Australia’s fourth Super Rugby team.

    Sharpe, a veteran of 105 Tests for the Wallabies, was to have finished his international career during the June fixtures, but a season-ending injury to regular Wallaby Captain, James Horwill, saw Sharpe answer the SOS of coach Robbie Deans, and after consultation with his two young sons, has now made himself available for the Rugby Championship.

    For the next three weeks though, it’s time to bring the curtain down on a wonderful Super Rugby career. After taking on the Blues in Auckland, Sharpe’s last game for the Force will be in Christchurch against the finals-bound Crusaders on July 14.

    Tonight, however, tears are set to flow as Sharpe plays his final game in front of the Sea of Blue in Perth. Sharpe was reportedly desperate to keep the emotions in check, earlier in the week, “because if I sit around and let emotion get in the way of it, I’ll probably be a blubbering mess the whole week.”

    Sharpe will play his 91st match for the Western Force, with his 14-year career so far tallying a record 160 Super Rugby games.

    While it would be great to see Sharpie finish in Perth with a win, for the Brumbies there is simply no room for such sentiment.

    With the Reds defeating the Rebels in Melbourne last night, this game becomes even more must win for the Brumbies if they are to maintain their Australian Conference lead, and indeed, claim a first home final since 2005.

    While the Force comprise a pack chock-full of current and former Wallabies, the Brumbies pack has made massive improvements in 2012, and can now happily boast a Wallaby front row of its own.

    All nine of the Brumbies’ recent Wallaby squad inclusions will be looking to make a mark during this run home to the finals, but none more so than scrumhalf Nic White. White was selected for all three Tests against Wales, but spent the entire 240 minutes on the bench while Will Genia turned on a master class in the Wallaby no.9 jersey.

    The match kicks off at NIB Stadium in Perth at 5:40pm local time (7:40pm AEST).

    Brett McKay is a former non-tackling scrumhalf and not-quite-1st Grade middle order stalwart. A rugby and cricket expert for The Roar since July 2009 (having joined in Sept 2008), Brett has written for Inside Rugby and Cricket Australia, and is also PLAY Canberra's rugby correspondent. He tweets from @BMcSport
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