The New South Wales Waratahs and the Western Force played out a 16-16 draw in the fifth round of the Super 14 at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday.
The Waratahs had a last-minute chance to win the Australian derby when they were awarded a penalty near the right touchline, but replacement Sam Norton-Knight took a quick tap and lost possession.
Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat, who kicked a conversion and three penalties, had missed an earlier chance to win the match when his penalty attempt from in front struck the post.
The Force outscored Waratahs two tries to one, with fullback Drew Mitchell and flyhalf Matt Giteau scoring in either half while wing Cameron Shepherd landed two penalties.
”At least we got something out of the game,” Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie said in a televised interview.
”It wasn’t a loss, so that’s something, but we still have to do better.”
The Waratahs’ only five-pointer came midway through the first half after inside centre Morgan Turinui scored a solo try, which Hewat converted.
Mitchell scored out wide for the Force just before half-time to send his team to the break trailing 13-11 before Giteau put the visitors in front when he jinked past three defenders to score just after the re-start.
Shepherd missed the conversion and Hewat kicked his third penalty with 15 minutes to go to level the scores as both sides resorted to kicking for field position.
”These games are the closest thing we get to test matches in Super 14. They’re never pretty and they always come down to the end,” Western Force wing Scott Staniforth said.
”We know each other game’s so well so when you come up against each other we cancel each other out.” — Reuters