The Western Force have come away with a convincing 28-0 victory over the Hurricanes at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
The Force started with a bang and showed great persistence in defence holding the 2015 Super Rugby grand finalists scoreless throughout the match.
It took the Western Australian side five minutes to get on the scoreboard through big man Adam Coleman, after a series of fantastic offloads from Steve Mafi and Ian Prior. Adam crashed over just left of the posts for the first try of the game. Peter Grant made easy work of the conversion and the Force took an early 7-0 lead.
The Hurricanes then put together some solid phases, that placed them on the five-metre line, but the Force defence was exceptional, with Dane Haylett-Petty putting a big shot on rival fullback Jason Woodward, which caused a knock on.
With the match being played in 20-minute quarters, the Force went into the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.
With neither team damaging the scoreboard in the second quarter, the Force went into the sheds with a 7-0 lead. Solid performances in defence from both teams were the key, with both struggling to finish off strong sets of phases.
The second half saw the Force make a host of changes to their starting team, with Semisi Masirewa, Heath Tessmann, Ross Haylett-Petty, and Kane Koteka all injected into the second half of the game.
After a relentless set of phase play from the Hurricanes in the first 10 minutes, the Force were under immense pressure, which led to Steve Mafi being sent to the bin after repeat offences. Not five minutes later young flanker Kane Koteka was also sent to the bin, and the Force were left with 13 men on the pitch.
The Force went on the attack despite the two-man deficit and pushed hard for their try line. Steve Mafi stepped back on the field and had an immediate impact scoring off the back of a Force lineout on the stroke of three-quarter time. Jono Lance converted and the Force took a 14-point lead into the last quarter.
Four minutes into the last quarter and after an errant pass from the Hurricanes, Chris Alcock pounced on the loose ball and shot down the field. After an offload to the first gamer Richard Hardwick, the Force flicked a pass wide to recruit Semisi Masirewa, who then stepped three Hurricanes players and dotted down for a great team try. Lance once again added the extras and the Force went 21-0 up with 15 minutes to play.
The men from the West struck again in the 75th minute, after a strong line break from Chris Alcock, who ran the ball inches away from the line. The ball was quickly pushed out to the left and after an offload from Jono Lance to Ammon Matuauto the Force went over for their fourth try. Lance had no trouble with the conversion, taking the score to 28-0.
AndyS
Guest
I'm inclined to agree on the significance of trial form, but holding any team to zero says not even a penalty which does have some meaning...
Machooka
Roar Guru
Bugger RobC... I must've missed this one. Very good my man. You cracked a funny :))
atlas
Guest
Hurricanes coach Boyd: "Of the guys we took away, only Brad Shields and Reggie [Goodes] were starting players from last year's environment. There were nine guys that played their first game for the Hurricanes, there were three or four that hadn't even played ITM Cup." From Gisborne (1 week training camp), the Hurricanes will go to Eketahuna where they play the Blues on February 13. Boyd said all his gun players would appear in that match, apart from captain Dane Coles who will be at a wedding And a note on Eketahuna, from Wiki Eketahuna is considered by some to be the stereotypical rural New Zealand town, and is occasionally used in conversation to represent "the real New Zealand". The 2013 census recorded Eketahuna's population at 441; down from 456 in 2006. New Zealanders colloquially refer to the town of Eketahuna the way other English speakers refer to Timbuktu, i.e., the middle of nowhere, "the sticks", the end of the world.
ethan
Guest
Oh... It all makes sense now.
ethan
Guest
I didn't list Rasolea as well because you can't have three centres in a 15! Also Piror and Louwrens are pretty nearly as good as Mathewson IMO.
Machooka
Roar Guru
ethan... are you joking? C'mon... a B team Hurricanes should always beat an A team Force. Anything else is just wrong... and disturbing.
Digby
Roar Guru
But the Force are straight in? It's very confusing.
Digby
Roar Guru
Good, seven going on thirty ;) The coffee making has died down a bit of late, starting to think that run is over!
Mr Tommo
Guest
*Mathewson, Rasolea too... still it was pretty much a ITM squad against a strong force outfit
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday DC. That one doesnt count mate. You still have three more to go :)
RobC
Roar Guru
I like the look of Lance a lot.
Brawlsinmauls
Guest
Oh sweet, hopefully Ardie can get a black jersey come business time.
allblackfan
Guest
how about NSW playing WA in Sheffield Shield cricket IN Christchurch?? :-)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ain't that the truth... all those young little people, high on cordial, around your table espousing their personal views on Rugby in general. Hey, how's that little coffee maker goin'? I still see she's a featuring :)
atlas
Guest
Ardie Savea returns to Hurricanes next week. And the Ioane brothers plus Ben Lam return to the Blues. These four have not committed to Sevens in 2016, they remain Super players, who may get selected for Rio.
ethan
Guest
Do you disagree? Players missing from the Canes: J Savea, Milner-Skudder, Jane, Barrett, Perenara, Vito, A Savea, Gibbons, Broadhurst, Coles Players missing from the Force: Tapuai, Hodgson, McCalman, Faulkner
Digby
Roar Guru
Hurricanes are quite loud.
Taylorman
Guest
Blues a 59-7 win over the Rebels with a good return forty from Ranger. Depleted Rebels side came over and Blues had all their ABs in there. Still, good to get a win away from Eden park. About 20km away...
Machooka
Roar Guru
Interesting to note Digger... that Jimboomba in the tongue of it's indigenous owners means 'land of loud thunder and little rain'. Not a good omen for ya Hurricanes methinks.
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
Midweek too.