Melbourne made no mistake with their second crack at super time, edging the Western Force 25-20 in their grudge match at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night.
Wallabies number eight Isi Naisarani, playing his first game in Super Rugby AU following a hamstring injury, scored the match-winning try in the second minute of extra time.
The Rebels had already had a taste of super time, drawing with the Reds in Round 2 with neither side able to score in the ten minutes.
Melbourne captain Matt Toomua, who was again one of his team’s best, said they were better for their earlier experience at extra time, which was only introduced this season
“We learnt from our mistakes,” Toomua told Fox Sports.
“I thought there was a real pick-up in intensity in that super time, it was almost like it woke us up and you saw us get physical.
“If we took a leaf out of that book for the whole game it probably would have been easier but credit to the Force they put us under a lot of pressure and forced a lot of silly penalties that cost us the chance to win in the first 80.”
(William West/AFP via Getty Images)
The last time the teams met in 2017 they were fighting for Super Rugby survival, with the Force winning that match and the Rebels winning the battle to stay in the competition.
But they again broke Force hearts, leaving them winless after four games.
Force lock Jeremy Thrush, who took over the captaincy following the late withdrawal of halfback Ian Prior, said it was a tough result to swallow.
“It was there for the taking,” Thrush said.
“That was the story of the night; we put pressure on them and then released it with our exits inside our own half.
“It was pretty gutting to lose like that.”
Both teams had the chance to break the 20-20 deadlock with a penalty kick by Force five-eighth Jono Lance going wide before a 60-metre strike by Rebels fullback Reece Hodge after the fulltime hooter fell short.
For a third time in four matches the Force built an early lead, going up 10-0, only to allow their opposition back into the game.
The match was stalled for more than five minutes early on with Force flanker Tevin Ferris stretchered off with a suspected neck injury after an awkward tackle, leaving his teammates looking rattled.
It was a scrappy first half, with referee Angus Gardner blowing 18 penalties including 11 conceded by the Rebels as well as a yellow card for Naisarani.
There was plenty of feeling in the match, with the teams involved in a scuffle midway through the half with Gardner telling the captains: “I understand there’s some history between the two teams so let’s put that down to getting it out of the system”.
The Force looked like they would take the lead into the main break until Hodge managed to nail a penalty from 45 metres out two minutes after the hooter to level at 10-10.
The teams traded tries and penalties in an upbeat second half, while Thrush was also hit with a yellow card.
Lance levelled the score after 63 minutes but neither side could find the winning points, pushing the game into extra time.
Thrush spilt the ball from the kick-off and Rebels, through Naisarani, rumbled over.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I was only noting I felt he did it for both teams. If there is inconsistency, as you note, one team is probably going to be favoured by it by chance. It was mostly in the first half when the Rebels seemed to get the rough end, which is hardly surprising as the Force dominated possession 60/40 and he tended to take it to the defence with his inconsistent rulings.
PeterK
Roar Guru
TWAS - Yes he gave dubious penalties both way. However I am highlighting inconsistency in interpretation rather than errors or dubious calls. By far the majority of inconsistent calls favoured the force.
PeterK
Roar Guru
yes he should have have yc'd earlier once he gave away so many peanlties.
piru
Roar Rookie
I thought he was exceedingly easy on the Rebels in the first half, Naisarani copped the yellow (which I agree was a bit harsh), but it should have been given two penalties earlier after they were warned.
Ex force fan
Guest
There was a lot of interference on the players that needs to clean out that allowed time for Rebels turnovers. Overall the discipline was poor and the game didn’t flow. There were 8 former Force players in the Rebels squad and therefore a lot of emotion in the game that made the game interesting to watch but not much of a spectacle.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Gardiner talking about it just showed how he was looking for stuff to happen
Ex force fan
Guest
Feedback from family is that he is ok, nothing serious.
pm
Roar Rookie
Still a little surprised we haven't heard more on Ferris. That looked really bad, hope he's alright... Enjoyed most of the game but pretty disappointed as a west aussie for the Force. Looking good, but gotta get a win or too
ScottD
Roar Guru
I am getting a bit tired of the references to this game as a grudge match. It is total rubbish. Most of the 2017 Force players ended up at the Rebels and most of the current Force players weren't at the Force in 2017. It was a hard fought and willing game between two evenly matched teams that both needed to win. That is all!!
PeterK
Roar Guru
I gave specific examples of where Gardner was in consistent and it happened to be all against the rebels. Rebels discipline was poor. Also scrum aside all the penalties were correct, the issue was for exactly the same offence the force infringements were ignored. Another ref could have been much much harder on both sides, or another ref could have ignored more infringements from both sides, so that statement of what another ef could have done is totally irrelevant.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I will give him one compliment. I thought he straightened out the scrum pretty well. I enjoyed his chat with the Rebels front row that said - it's stable on your ball, collapsing on their's. Show me a better picture. Scrums largely stayed up from that point onward.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Peter I saw him penalise the Force got dubious reasons too. To me it was just looking to penalise the D whenever he could.
Jarrod Murray
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, I think you are right Pete. Although, if I was to highlight some positives. I love how Gardner explains himself and his calls. His chat with both teams is second to none.
Stu B.
Guest
Peter K, are you sure you were watching the same game as myself, that is Force v Rebels. Gardner was trying to make a game of it and was not one sided in any shape or form, the Rebels discipline was woeful and another ref may have been much, much harder.
PeterK
Roar Guru
IMO Gardner has dropped in standards from last year. He was inconsistent on players rolling away, binned Naisarani despite obvious efforts to roll away east west (as required) and he was pinned by legs, yet let force players roll north south back into the half or lay there longer and no penalty. Also in scrums force collapse and no penalty yet rebels collapse and a penalty. Penalty against rebels for jackler placing hands on the ground before the ball yet allowed it for the force a couple of breakdowns earlier. So once against he seemed to be jersey watching since the inconsistencies seemed nearly all one way. He is also giving obscure free kicks / penalties despite there being no material effect on the play , like in the lineout swapping players running on the inside rather than outside. He is also failing to apply the breakdown in the order that it should be , ie tacklers releasing, clean air, jackler on his feet , ball carrier holding on. Also he is often now making the jackler survive a cleanout which is the old way , he should be giving the penalty a lot earlier for safety reasons and speeding up play.