The Western Force kept their slim Super 14 finals hopes alive with record 45-17 thrashing of the Central Cheetahs at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Friday.
The Force, needing a bonus-point win to remain mathematically capable of reaching the play-offs in their second season, delivered with a six-try spree that took them to their highest score yet in the competition.
Led by the brilliance of Matt Giteau and Digby Ioane, the Force blew the game open with a three-try first half and held a commanding 21-0 lead at the break.
Needing four tries for the bonus point, the Force showed their hand by declining the points on offer for penalties on at least five occasions in the first stanza.
The Force used their extra mobility to run the tired South Africans ragged, making eight first-half line breaks as the struggling Cheetahs missed a dismal 24 tackles.
It took only 10 minutes for the Force to cross the Cheetahs’ line, but a forward pass saw Ryan Cross denied a try.
However, just six minutes later Cross was on the scoresheet thanks to Giteau’s deft backhand.
Up 7-0 after Giteau’s conversion, the Force added a second try in the 19th minute, with a Scott Staniforth break leading to a huge overlap, which ended with Ioane waltzing across the line with ease.
Giteau again converted for a 14-0 lead and things got worse for the Cheetahs when Duane Vermeulen was sin-binned.
The Force pressed the Cheetahs’ line for several minutes late in the half and won several penalties, before persistence paid off and Staniforth crossed in the corner after a James Hilgendorf pass.
Giteau converted from the sideline to cap a memorable half for the Force.
It seemed like the Cheetah’s horror Antipodean tour couldn’t end quickly enough, but they fought back bravely early in the second half, scoring two tries through Philip Burger and Ryno van der Merwe to breathe life back into the game and narrow the margin to 21-12.
However, AJ Whalley slammed the door shut again and secured the bonus point with his first Super rugby try in the 58th minute, after another great run by Ioane.
It was then party time for the Force, with Tai McIsaac also crossing for the first time in his Super career in the 61st minute after a Drew Mitchell break.
Staniforth and Cross both added their second tries in the dying moments. — AFP
