The Western Force’s Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes have taken a hit following a fighting 32-15 defeat to the ACT Brumbies in cold and dewy conditions in Canberra on Saturday night.
The Force headed into the game with three wins from the side’s past four games, compared to the Brumbies who were coming off a three-game losing streak, but the home side were too strong in the second half, after an arm-wrestle in the first 40.
ACT scrum-half Ryan Lonergan starred with two penalty kicks and a second-half try as the Brumbies pulled away, having led 14-10 at the break.
The key statistics were relatively even at half-time, but the Brumbies enjoyed more attacking territory in the second 40, with their forwards getting on top, forcing penalties and pulling away with 347-286 metres gained in the end.
Harry Johnson-Holmes and Carlo Tizzano scored the Force’s tries while Dylan Pietsch never stopped pressing in his 50th game, with the Force unable to salute in ex-Brumbies lock Darcy Swain’s 100th Super Rugby cap.
The result leaves the Force in 10th with 18 points, nine outside the top six finals spots, with three games to play.
All three of those games are at HBF Park, starting next Saturday from 5:35pm WST against the sixth-placed Queensland Reds in the zero2hero Charity Game, with tickets on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Force skipper Jeremy Williams told Stan Sport after the game: “Really physical game. We knew they’d come out raring to go. At times we matched them. I do think they won the collisions. Our discipline let them into their attacking zone.”
The Brumbies took an early lead after winning territory from the opening kick-off, going direct before Lachlan Shaw got over with Lonergan converting for a 7-0 lead.
Despite losing in-form scrum-half Henry Robertson to a worrying leg concern on the quarter hour, the Force levelled through prop Johnson-Holmes after Carlo Tizzano’s run drove them inside the 22 followed by gain-line thrusts from several forwards.
Under ACT attacking pressure, Brandon Paenga-Amosa earned a huge turnover in defence, but the Force spurned a 5m attacking lineout when Nick Frost pinched it.
Ben Donaldson put the Force ahead 10-7 with a 22m penalty after James Slipper’s infringement, only for ACT to re-claim their lead after Corey Toole’s break, with Sapsford scoring down the left.
The Brumbies pulled ahead after the break with Lonergan’s penalty kick followed by a try in the corner after combining with his brother Lachlan.
The Force rallied, gaining attacking territory, and scoring from a lineout maul with Tizzano crossing. Donaldson conversion missed, leaving the Force down 22-15 with 20 to go.
Lonergan added another penalty to make it a two-score game with 10 to go. Pietsch raced away for a try, only to be denied due to a tough obstruction call on Sef Fa’agase.
The Brumbies added another try to clinch victory via debutant Chris Mickelson.
ACT Brumbies 32
Tries: Shaw (2’), Sapsford (30’), R.Lonergan (45’), Mickelson (75’)
Conversions: R.Lonergan 3/4
Penalties: R.Lonergan 2/2
Western Force 15
Tries: Johnson-Holmes (15’), Tizzano (61’)
Conversions: Donaldson 1/2
Penalties: Donaldson 1/1
@ GIO Stadium, Canberra
