The Western Force pushed and probed after rallying from a 19-point deficit but ultimately fell short in a tight 29-24 defeat to Emerging Ireland in warm conditions in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
In the Force’s second game of the Toyota Challenge – after a 38-23 over the Cheetahs on Thursday morning WST – the WA side showed industry and endeavour but couldn’t land a knockout blow despite numerous phases of attacking pressure after the final siren.
Three times the Force closed within five points of the Irish, including after Coby Miln’s 79th minute penalty, before wave after wave of late pressure which saw the game extend four minutes beyond the final siren, including a Harry Potter carry into the 22, only for a side entry penalty to close the game out.
Emerging Ireland got the better of the Force with four tries to three, although the Irish scored all of theirs in the first half, including three in the first 20 minutes.
The Force will rue their slow start particularly their discipline, with both of the Irish’s first two tries coming after penalties. Yellow cards to Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Darcy Swain later in the game didn’t help either.
Otherwise, it was an even contest, where the Force showed plenty of creativity with the ball, led by Max Burey.
Full-back Mac Grealy, Associates winger Justin Landman and off-season signing Nic Dolly all scored tries for the Force.
Force captain Reed Prinsep was proud of the team’s desire to stay in the game and told SuperSport after the game: “It’s certainly something I’m very proud of. We went up against a high-quality international team. We stayed in the fight.
“We put them under pressure through multiple phases of that game. Credit to them, they got the job done.”
Emerging Ireland got the jump on the Force with early tries from Jude Postlethwaite and Chay Mullins coming directly following Swain and Potter penalties. Sean Jansen added a third try in the 19th minute, swooping on Sio Tomkinson’s errant pass.
Trailing 19-0 at the drinks break – implemented due to the warm Bloemfontein conditions – the Force re-grouped, with two tries in the next 10 minutes to make it 19-14.
Burey was involved in both, with his carry leading to Potter’s line break and offload for Grealy to score his first try in Force colours.
In the 27th minute, physical back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny forced a turnover, before Burey found space to burst through and release Landman to score.
The Irish crossed in the 37th minute from Jansen but it was disallowed for obstruction.
On the stroke of half-time, the Irish scored again from a rolling maul after Force scrum-half Fines-Leleiwasa was yellow carded for high contact in a tackle on TMO review.
Burey exited the game prior to half-time and replacement fly-half Miln impacted quickly with a 50-22, after a long-range penalty attempt fell marginally short, before Landman’s brilliant chase earned the Force territory inside the 22.
From there, Emerging Ireland lost back-rower Alex Soroka to the bin before Dolly got over on the back of a maul, with Miln’s conversion making it 26-21.
Swain’s lineout steal offered the Force the chance to capitalize on their numerical advantage, but the lock was yellow carded in the 58th minute for foul play with a high tackle.
Both sides traded periods of possession before Irish fly-half Sam Prendergast pushed wide his penalty kick attempt as Emerging Ireland searched for an eight-point lead, only to nail one with five minutes left to establish the two-score buffer.
But Miln wasted no time with a 79th minute penalty kick offering the Force late hope, but after patient and probing double-figure attacking phases the WA side fell short of finding an avenue to victory.
Next up, the Force face the DHL Western Province XV in Stellenbosch on Saturday. There will be no live stream available for this game.
Western Force 24
Tries: Grealy (21’), Landman (26’), Dolly (51’)
Conversions: Burey 2/2, Miln 1/1
Penalties: Miln 1/2
Emerging Ireland 29
Tries: Postlethwaite (7’), Mullins (15’), Jensen (19’), Kendellen (40’)
Conversions: Prendergast 3/4
Penalties: Prendergast 1/2
