The Western Force have scored a convincing 28-0 victory over the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby trial at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
The Force showed great determination in defence on Wednesday night to hold the 2015 finalists scoreless.
It took the Force only five minutes to get on the board through Adam Coleman, after a series of impressive offloads from Steve Mafi and Ian Prior. Coleman crashed over near the posts for the first try to give them a 7-0 lead.
The Hurricanes then put together a number of solid phases, that placed them on the five-metre line, but the Force defence was exceptional, with Dane Haylett-Petty putting a huge shot on rival fullback Jason Woodward, which caused a knock-on.
With the match being played in 20-minute quarters, the Force went into the sheds at halftime still with a 7-0 lead.
In the second half, the Force made multiple changes to their 15, with Semisi Masirewa, Heath Tessmann, Ross Haylett-Petty and Kane Koteka all injected.
The home side had Mafi sent to the bin after repeat offences, followed by young flanker Kane Koteka, leaving them with 13 men on the pitch.
When Mafi came back on, he had an immediate impact, scoring off the back of a lineout on the stoke of three-quarter time. Jono Lance converted and the Force took a 14-point lead into the last quarter.
Four minutes into the last quarter and after a poor pass from the Hurricanes, Chris Alcock pounced on the loose ball and shot down the field. After an offload to first gamer Richard Hardwick, the Force flicked a pass wide to Masirewa, who stepped three Hurricanes players and crossed for a great team try and a 21-0 lead with 15 minutes to play.
The Force struck again in the 75th minute, after a strong line break from Alcock, who ran the ball very close to the line. The ball was quickly pushed out to the left and, after a superb offload from Lance to Ammon Matuauto, the Force went over for their fourth try.
The Western Force’s final pre-season match is on Saturday, February 13 against the Asia Pacific Dragons at McGillivray Oval.
