Western Force ease past aimless Lions

The Force eased to victory over the Lions at Coca-Cola Park with a 12-33 victory maintaining their unbeaten record at the South African venue.

The Force scored the only try of the first half which was dominated by penalty kicks as the two teams traded four penalties each.

Both the Lions and the Force are out of the running for the Super 14 play off places but the Lions now have the record of losing their last 12 matches in a row beating the Bulls 2002 record of 11 straight losses.

The Lions still have matches to come against the Blues at home in Johannesburg and then an away match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The Force move down to Bloemfontein for their Round 13 clash with the Cheetahs and finish off against the Sharks in Durban.

Flyhalf David Hill contributed 28 points in a game which the visitors led from the first minute to the last, picking up their fourth win to remain in 11th place on the log.

The hosts, however, equalled the Bulls' eight-year-old Super 14 record with 11 consecutive defeats.

And, including their last game of 2009, the Lions have run up 12 successive losses in the competition.

Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar admitted they hadn't used all their opportunities, but remained confident they could regain some pride in their last two games against the Blues and the Cheetahs.

"We can't give up," Grobbelaar said.

"Come Monday we'll be back to the drawing board. There's still lots of hope."

The Force were 6-0 up in the third minute after two penalties from Hill gave them an early lead, and while Lions flyhalf Herkie Kruger managed to draw them even at 12-12 by the 32nd minute.

Force wing Scott Staniforth however opened the gap again shortly before the break.

With a minute remaining on the first-half clock Staniforth received the ball on the flank and dotted down between the posts to give his side a 12-19 lead at the end of the opening half.

Both sides' fowards were made to work hard, but the Lions eventually cracked under the pressure exerted by the Force midway through the second half.

In the 58th minute loosehead Pek Cowan offloaded to Hill and the flyhalf stretched the lead to 26-12 after converting his own try.

And with seven minutes to go substitute Mark Bartholomeusz wrapped it up with a third try and Hill converted to give the visitors a decisive victory.

Final Score Lions 12 Force 33

Scorers

Lions
Tries -
Pen - H Kruger 3
Con -
Drop -
Cards - Wikus van Heerden (35) yellow

Force
Tries - S Staniforth, D Hill, M. Bartholomeusz
Pen - D Hill 4
Con - D Hill 3
Drop -
Cards - Matt Hodgson (29) Yellow

Match Officials
Referee: Craig Joubert (SA)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (SA), Stefan Breytenbach (SA)
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee (SA)

Teams

Lions - Carlos Spencer, Michael Killian, Deon van Rensburg, Walter Venter, Tonderai Chavhanga, Herkie Kruger, Jano Vermaak, Derick Minnie, Wikus van Heerden, Cobus Grobbelaar, Nico Luus, George Earl, Ross Geldenhuys, Charles Emslie, JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: Hannes Franklin, Heinke van der Merwe, Jacques Lombard, Justin Wheeler, Jacques Coetzee, Jaco Taute/Wigan Pekeur, Bernardo Botha.

Force - 1.Pek Cowan,2.Ben Whittaker,3.Matt Dunning,4.Sam Wykes,5.Nathan Sharpe (c),6.Matt Hodgson,7.David Pocock ,8.Richard Brown,9.Brett Sheehan,10.David Hill,11.Nick Cummins,12.Ryan Cross,13.Mitch Inman,14.Scott Staniforth,15.Mark Bartholomeusz

Reserves:16.Nathan Charles (FR),17.Kieran Longbottom (FR),18. Tom Hockings,19.Ben McCalman,20.Justin Turner,21.Sam Harris,22.Cameron Shepherd

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