The Western Force have found some winning form with a 41-29 victory over Penina Pasifika in Saturday’s development fixture at UWA Sports Park.
The Force triumphed in a seven-try display headlined by a double from full-back Sheree Hume in Saturday’s fixture, during the side’s bye round.
The development fixture, which wasn’t for SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s competition points, enabled Force coach Dylan Parsons to explore his squad with several players handed maiden starts with Wallaroos Trilleen Pomare, Cecilia Smith and Michaela Leonard among those absent.
The Force had opened the 2025 Super W season with a draw at home to the ACT Brumbies followed by a last-gasp narrow loss to the NSW Waratahs, so claiming a win was good nourishment for the side.
The Force jumped out to an early 12-0 lead but Penina continued to rally throughout the contest.
The hosts opened the scoring off the back off a rolling maul and some individual brilliance from Loretta Mailangi to get over from 8m out.
Otago product Hume added a second in the 10th minute with a great run, with Nicole Ledington’s conversion successful for a 12-0 lead.
The Force lost Adi Vani Buleki to a yellow card on the quarter hour, enabling Penina to respond, scoring underneath the posts after several phases for 12-7.
Hume struck back almost immediately, but Penina chipped away again with another try for 17-12.
Ledington showcased her quality to score the next, before Ashley Marsters displayed her smarts with a quick tap to burrow over. Penina again scored next for a 29-17 half-time score.
Force front-rower Allana Sikimeti added the first try of the second half, yet Penina again managed the next try.
Grace Freeman, playing in the midfield, was next to score, converting her own try for a 41-24 lead before another late Penina score after a run of pick and gos.
Western Force 41
Tries: Mailangi, Hume 2x, Ledington, Marsters, Sikimeti, Freeman
Penina Pasifika 29
Western Force Match Report, Powered by Altrad
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