 The patience of the long-suffering Western Force supporters must be wearing very thin after the home side turned in a patchy second-half performance to lose a desperately close Super 14 match to the Lions with a last-minute penalty, 25-24.
The match ended in high drama as Force wing Cameron Shepherd and Springboks flyhalf Andre Pretorius traded goal attempts. Shepherd sent the crowd into delirium with a penalty to take the lead 24-22 three minutes from time.
But it quickly turned to tragedy as halfback Matt Henjak conceded a penalty in front of the posts in the 80th minute, and Pretorius slotted the kick to steal the game and extend the Force's winless home record. The Force attacked desperately as the hooter sounded and ran multiple phases of attack until flyhalf Matt Giteau attempted a drop goal that skewed off his boot and the Lions kicked clear to seal the nail-biting win.
Lions 25
Tries: Fourie
Conversions: Strydom
Penalties: Strydom 4, Pretorius
Drop Goal: Andre Pretorius
Western Force 24
Tries: Shepherd, Hardy
Conversions: Shepherd
Penalties: Shepherd 4 The Blues have turned on a second-half spectacle to totally outclass the Reds 38-13 in a bruising round four Investec Super 14 clash at Eden Park in Auckland.
Squaring off before a crowd of 18,500, it was the hosts who scored the only try of an intense first half, notable for yet another high penalty count, to take a 13-6 lead into the break.
After trading early penalties, the Reds dominated up front for most of the opening 40 minutes and Clinton Shifcofske, although not turning on his best performance with the boot, extended his side's lead by three late in the half.
But just as things looked to have swung in the visitors' favour, a late try to Rudi Wulf, backed up by a penalty goal to Luke McAlister, ensured the Blues boasted a halftime lead.
Then, in stark contrast to the first half, it was the Blues who dominated in both possession and territory in the second 40 minutes as they piled on three tries to one to seize control of the match and secure the five competition points. Blues 38
Tries: Rudi Wulf 2, Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa
Conversions: Nacewa 2, Luke McAlister 1
Penalties: McAlister 3, Nacewa 1
Reds 13
Tries: Charlie Fetoai
Conversions: Clinton Shifcofske
Penalties: Shifcofske 2 Sportal
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