The Western Force have missed out on the chance to host a SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s semi-final for the first time after going down 47-10 to the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday.
The stakes were high for both sides, who already knew they were bound for the semi-finals, with the winner to clinch second spot and earn the right to a home semi-final next weekend.
But the Reds were too strong, led by their forward pack, running in five first-half tries, with the Force unable to find a way back despite an Adi Vani Buleki try.
The visitors had plenty of possession but the Reds had the better of the territory and took their chances, with front-rower Eva Karpani scoring a hat-trick in a seven-tries-to-one triumph.
The result means the Force will travel to face the NSW Waratahs in the semi-finals next weekend, with the date, kick-off time and venue to be confirmed.
Force captain Trilleen Pomare said post-game: “We’ll take our learnings from that. You can’t win the game without the ball. I think early we got put under pressure and they came out with points back to back. We need to be better next week.”
Force fly-half Grace Freeman was a late withdrawal due to injury but it was her replacement Nicole Ledington who got the first points with an early penalty.
But the Reds replied, with Karpani’s drive leading to a Vineta Teatau pick and go over Mio Yamanaka to score with Lori Cramer converting.
Reds inside-centre Shalom Sauaso turned play from one end to the other with a great run, before hooker Tiarna Molloy crossed for 14-3. Sauaso’s steal and Charlotte Caslick’s assist set up Zoe Hanna for another for the Reds.
The Force finally replied, with the forwards pressuring the try line before spreading play right for Fijian speedster Buleki to score with Ledington converting for 21-10.
Loosehead prop Karpani, however, barged over soon after and Sauaso added another with a pick and go from the bottom of a ruck after a wayward Reds’ line-out to make it 35-10 at the break.
The Force needed a strong response in the second 40 but it was the Reds who scored first, with Cramer bumping off Yamanaka to dish off to Karpani for her second.
Force midfielder Cecilia Smith, playing her former side, was binned for a high tackle in the 46th minute, but the visitors kept pressing, going close through Tamika Jones down the right. The Force lost the ball from the ensuing line-out in another moment of frustration.
Karpani completed her hat-trick on the hour mark, forcing her way through after a short-ball set-play line-out down the right side.
The Reds were reduced to 14 after a Carola Kreis high tackle on Madi Schuck late on, but the Force couldn’t score a consolation try.
Queensland Reds 47
Tries: Teutau (11’), Molloy (15’), Hanna (21’), Karpani 3x (33’, 41’, 60'), Sauaso (40’)
Conversions: Cramer 6/7
Penalties: Nil
Western Force 10
Tries: Buleki (29’)
Conversions: Ledington 1/1
Penalties: Ledington 1/1
Western Force Match Report, Powered by Altrad
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