Australia’s Western Force have returned from Argentina where they beat the Jaguares last week and will host the Highlanders in Perth this weekend.
Both of these teams have had to travel for this clash. As mentioned above the Force were in Buenos Aires last week while the Highlanders were in Pretoria.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off
Ian Prior of the Force kicks off and the match is underway.
Early knock on from Luke Morahan after a high box kick so the HIghlanders have a scrum. They win the scrum and kick for touch setting up a line out in the Force’s 22.
3.00: The ball is won by the Force and chipped into touch. The Force have the put in. The Highlanders win the line out and boot the ball upfield. Morahan chips it back.
4.00: The Force kick the ball back to the Highlanders who kick it back. Tevita Li finds touch.
8.00: Penalty to the W.Force – Highlanders not releasing. Prior lines up the posts but misses.
11.00: The Highlanders have the penalty advantage so kick to the corner. The ball is lost so they go back for the penalty. Peter Grant has taken a knock and has to come off for a HIA.
13.00: Marty Banks takes the kick and nails it. Highlanders lead.
19.00: The Highlanders spread the ball wide down the wing and Matt Faddes sets up Tevita Li who scores in the corner. TRY!
20.00: Marty Banks adds the conversion.
24.00: Penalty to the Force. Ian Prior takes the kick and nails it. The Force are on the board. Peter Grant has been ruled out after failing the HIA.
28.00: Scrum penalty to the Force. Prior lines up the posts. He nails it off the posts.
30.00: The Highlanders set up a line out in the Force’s 22. The Highlanders go wide to but there is an early tackle so they have a penalty. The Force take the line out option.
33.00; The Force defend their line but the Highlanders get the scrum put in for a 5m scrum.
35.00: The Highlanders win the scrum and move the ball from side to side across the face of the posts. Just as the Force turn the ball over and pass but Aki Seiuli intercepts it and dives over to score. TRY!
36.00: Banks adds the conversion.
38.00: The Force try to clear the ball but the kick is charged down by Patrick Osborne. The Highlanders look good to score but Semisi Masirewa infringes and is shown a yellow card. The Highlanders take the scrum in front of the posts.
40.00: The Force come away with the ball and clear it into touch as the siren sounds.
It’s half time.
The half time score was Force 6 Highlanders 17
The rain has started pouring down.
The Highlanders kick off and the second half is underway.
43.00; Patrick Osborne gets the ball in the centrefield and races for the line. TRY!
45.00: Banks adds the conversion. Osborne is replaced.
46.00: The Force win a penalty for the HIghlanders scrum angling in. Prior kicks for touch.
47.00: The TMO is called in to review potential foul play. Alex Ainley is yellow carded for a shoulder charge so the Force are down to 13 players.
50.00: The Force get back to 14 players but Rob Thompson sets up Aki Seiuli who crashes through and scores. TRY!
52.00: Banks takes the conversion kick and nails it.
54.00: Lima Sopoaga is on for the Highlanders who win a penalty. They take the line out option.
56.00: the Highlanders win the line out and kick wide to the corner. Tevita Li goes for the ball in the air but its lost. He dots the ball down so we go to the TMO. No try 5m scrum.
57.00: The Force defend the scrum and they kick for touch to clear the ball.
59.00: the Highlanders attack in the Force’s 22. Tevita Li goes for the corner and cuts back in drawing in three tacklers and then offloads to Rob Thompson who scores. TRY!
60.00: Banks adds the conversion.
63.00: Rob Thompson makes a break from his 22m line. It looks like he will go all the way but is caught on the 5m line and gets the ball away to Dillon Hunt who scores. Aaron Smith has now come on for the Highlanders.
64.00: Banks adds the conversion.
67.00: The Force look to attack but as they pass the ball Richard Buckman gets an intercept and runs in the seventh Highlanders TRY!
68.00: Banks misses the conversion.
72.00: Anaru Rangi has twisted his leg so has to be helped from the field. Polota-Nau comes back on.
77.00: The Force have a scrum. They win a free kick so they run it.
78.00: Penalty to the Highlanders. They take the line out.
79.00: The Highlanders throw is not straight so the Force have a scrum. The ball is lost forward so the Highlanders have an attacking scrum in the Force’s 22.
80.00: The Force come away with the ball and then fumble it. Thompson grabs the ball and dots it down. TRY number 8 !
81.00: Lima Sopoaga misses the conversion.
The Highlanders have won.
The full time score is Force 6 (6) Highlanders 55 (17)
Scorers
Force
Tries –
Pen – I.Prior 2
Con –
Drop –
Cards -S.Masirewa (38th min yellow), A.Ainley (47th min yellow)
Highlanders
Tries – T.Li, A. Seiuli 2 , P.Osborne, R.Thompson 2, D.Hunt, R.Buckman
Pen – M.Banks
Con – M.Banks 6
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Assistant Ref 1:Ed Martin
Assistant Ref 2:Damon Murphy
TMO : Ian Smith
Teams
Force
Pek Cowan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jermaine Ainsley, Richie Arnold, Adam Coleman, Ross Haylett-Petty, Brynard Stander, Richard Hardwick, Ian Prior, Peter Grant, Alex Newsome, Bill Meakes (C),Curtis Rona, Semisi Masirewa, Luke Morahan
Replacements:,Anaru Rangi,Francois van Wyk,Tetera Faulkner,Matt Philip,Lewis Carmichael, Isireli Naisarani,Michael Ruru,James Verity-Amm
Highlanders
1. Aki Seiuli,2. Liam Coltman,3. Siate Tokolahi,4. Alex Ainley,5. Tom Franklin,6. Gareth Evans,7. Dillon Hunt,8. Elliot Dixon (CC),9. Kayne Hammington,10. Marty Banks,11. Tevita Li,12. Richard Buckman,13. Malakai Fekitoa,14. Patrick Osborne,15. Matt Faddes
Replacements : 16.Adrian Smith ,17. Ash Dixon (CC),18. Guy Millar,19. Joe Wheeler,20. Jackson Hemopo,21. Aaron Smith,22. Lima Sopoaga,23. Rob Thompson
