The Western Force started strong but couldn’t keep up with the NSW Waratahs who powered home 67-14 in the final round of the Super Rugby U19s on Sunday.
The Force threatened an upset win after opened the scoring in sunny conditions at Revo Fitness Stadium, but the Tahs rallied for a 11 tries to two victory.
The clash was a dead rubber, with both sides out of Grand Final contention before kick-off, yet it was hotly contested.
Force duo Daniel Christodoulou and Jackson Bridges – who was named the Force’s Player of the Match - scored tries in the first half, with the visitors leading 29-14 at the break.
But the Force ran out of steam in the second half as the Tahs added another six tries to run out winners, with Will Guilfoyle coming off the bench to score a treble. The result means the Force finish fourth with a 1-3 record.
The Force took an early lead when front-rower Christodoulou powered his way over the line in the third minute in his first start of the campaign. Fortescue Academy fly-half Henry James added the extras for an early 7-0 lead.
NSW responded with Liam Grover offloading for Brendan Palmer to score on the left edge, followed by hooker Charlie O’Kane crossing on a driving maul.
Grover broke two tackles to score his first of the game in the 18th minute. Grover then set free full-back Sid Harvey for a fourth try and a 24-7 lead.
Christodoulou showed strength in the 28th minute when he held up Tahs flanker josh Va’alotu on the tryline, but the visitors crossed moments later via inside-centre Matteo Cleverley.
The Force narrowed the gap before half-time with Wests Scarborough flanker Bridges getting over at the second attempt with a pick and go, with James’ conversion making it 29-14 at the interval.
The Waratahs got the first points of the second 40 with some quick hands leading to Tom Klem dotting in the right corner, before Palmer forced his way over minutes later down the left.
The Force weren’t helped in the second half by injuries, with Oakley Pearce and Tafito Ahki exiting prematurely with knocks, before Va’alotu scored off a rolling maul followed by reserve front-rower Will Guilfoyle.
In the 63rd minute, the Force had a line-out on the attacking 5m line but failed to execute a trick play for Zak Griffiths.
Guilfoyle grabbed a second after Bridges had ripped the ball off the Tahs on the try-line, before he completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute off a rolling maul.
Western Force 14
Tries: Christodoulou (3’), Bridges (32’)
Conversions: James 2/2
Penalties: Nil
NSW Waratahs 67
Tries: Palmer 2x (5’, 47’). O’Kane (10’), Grover (18’), Harvey (24’), Cleverley (29’), Klem (44’), Va’alotu (52’), Guilfoyle 3x (59’, 67’, 72’)
Conversions: Harvey 5/10, Turinui 1/1
Penalties: Nil
