The Emirates Western Force have given their season a much needed shot in the arm and dispelled doubts they were brittle in close encounters after a wonderful come from behind one point win against the Waratahs in Sydney.

 

Despite going in as firm underdogs, and on the back of seven changes to their run-on side, including FxPro Super Rugby debuts for Will Tupou and David Harvey, the West Australian’s produced their best effort of 2012 and were duly rewarded.

 

After signing with the club last week, David Harvey enjoyed a dream first outing with the opening try of the game as well as clutch kicking to finish with 16 of the club’s 21 points.

 

The other points came from unheralded winger Sam Wara who, in his first ever FxPro Super Rugby start, was the man to finish off the Waratahs with a try in the 64th minute.

 

It was the result of a wonderful piece of team play including the ever present Nathan Sharpe who provided a great flick to hooker Nathan Charles who drew a defender before giving it to Wara to cross in the right corner and snatch a one point advantage.  Harvey’s conversion attempt bounced off the post, his only blemish from the boot.

 

With time still on the clock for the home side to respond the Emirates Western Force dug deep to keep the ball in their own half and despite a penalty with 30 seconds remaining allowing the Tahs one final crack, there wasn’t going to be any let up from the visitors.

 

With the Waratahs on attack and the siren already sounded, David Pocock’s ball pilfering skill came to the fore as the Emirates Western Force skipper stole the ball from a breakdown and Charles booted it into touch to complete the victory.

 

It was a solid performance across the field.  The forwards again provided a great platform for the backs who moved the ball with fluency, Brett Sheehan and James Stannard managing the game well, while Harvey’s pin point field kicking also relieved pressure when needed.

 

“We’ve worked hard over the last month and it was reward for the group.  At some stage you obviously want a result that gives you belief and confident in what you’ve doing,” Coach Richard Graham said.

 

“Thinking back to last year 11 of the 16 games we played we were leading at 65 minutes but didn’t convert, that was clearly an area we had to address.  We got ourselves into a similar situation today but were able to hold on.

 

“Tonight’s game in isolation is really important but what we need now is to prepare and come back out and win again next week.”

 

The character of the Emirates Western Force was tested early when the Waratahs were able to maul their way from a lineout not far from the try line and Adam Ashley-Cooper fell over to open the scoring.  Daniel Halangahu converted to give the home side a strong start in the opening 5 minutes.

 

Harvey reduced the margin with a successful penalty a short time later and the Emirates Western Force then hit the lead when they opted to take a lineout deep in their attacking zone rather than the kick for goal after the Waratahs went a man down following Dean Mumm’s yellow card.

 

It decision was justified when Stannard put Harvey through a big gap and the two times Ken Catchpole Medal winner for best player in the NSW 1st grade competition didn’t need a second invitation to dot down over the line and celebrate his elevation to the elite level.

 

The Perth side’s pressure at the breakdown was troubling the Waratahs but against the run of play the home side were able to secure their second try when halfback Sarel Pretorius knocked the ball out of the hands of his opposite number and the spill was cleaned up by Tom Kingston who strolled over for the points.

 

As the clock wound down towards the break the Emirates Western Force drove their way forward and a penalty gave Harvey another chance to shoot and he ensured that just one point was all that would separate the sides at half time.

 

Ten minutes after the restart the home supporters were on their feet when Ashley-Cooper slipped through a gap to touch down over the try line but it was waved away by the referee after Rob Horne had clearly obstructed the Emirates Western Force defence.

 

A penalty from Harvey in the 53rd minute put the West Aussies in the lead once more but two in a row from Halangahu gave the Tahs the lead before Wara silenced the Sydney Football Stadium crowd with his maiden try.

 

Saturday, 17 March 2012 at Sydney Football Stadium

 

Waratahs 20 (Tries: T Kingston, A Ashley-Cooper; Con: D Halangahu 2/2; Pen: D Halangahu 2/3)

Emirates Western Force 21 (Tries: D. Harvey, S Wara; Con: D. Harvey 1/2; Pen: D. Harvey 3/3; DG: J. Stannard 0/1)

 

Waratahs: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Kane Douglas, 6. Dave Dennis, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tevita Metuisela, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 10. Daniel Halangahu (c), 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Berrick Barnes, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Tom Kingston, 15. Bernard Foley, Reserves: 16. John Ulugia, 17. Paddy Ryan, 18. Sitaleki Timani, 19. Chris Alcock, 20. Richard Stanford, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Tom Carter

 

Emirates Western Force: 1. Pek Cowan; 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 4. Sam Wykes, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 6. Angus Cottrell, 7. David Pocock (c), 8. Matt Hodgson, 9. Brett Sheehan, 10. James Stannard, 11. Alfie Mafi, 12. Rory Sidey, 13. Will Tupou, 14. Samu Wara, 15. David Harvey, Reserves: 16. Ben Whittaker, 17. Kieran Longbottom, 18. Phoenix Battye, 19. Richard Brown, 20. Justin Turner, 21. Ben Seymour, 22. Winston Stanley

 

Milestones: Will Tupou (FxPro Super Rugby debut), David Harvey (FxPro Super Rugby debut)

 

 

Yellow Cards: Dean Mumm (17-27 minutes)

Referee: Jonathon White, NZ

Assistant Referees: Steve Walsh and Angus Gardner, AUS

Crowd: 14,673

 

4 Adam Ashley-Cooper Try                       5 - 0

5 Daniel Halangahu Conversion               7 - 0

10 David Harvey Penalty Goal                       7 - 3

17 Dean Mumm Sin Bin                       7 - 3

17 David Harvey Try                               7 - 8

18 David Harvey Conversion                       7 - 10

21 Daniel Halangahu Missed PG               7 - 10

37 Tom Kingston Try                       12 - 10

38 Daniel Halangahu Conversion               14 - 10

40 David Harvey Penalty Goal                       14 - 13

52 James Stannard Missed DG               14 - 13

53 David Harvey Penalty Goal                       14 - 16

55 Daniel Halangahu Penalty Goal       17 - 16

62 Daniel Halangahu Penalty Goal       20 - 16

64 Samu Wara Try                               20 - 21

66 David Harvey Missed Con                       20 - 21

 

The Emirates Western Force will give FxPro Super Rugby starts to off-season recruit and former NRL young gun Will Tupou as well as recent signing David Harvey in the club’s big clash against the Waratahs on Saturday night in Sydney.

 

Coach Richard Graham has made seven changes to the run-on side, and nine overall, after being forced to reshuffle his backline following injuries to the club’s three starting outside backs from last weekend.  Wingers Nick Cummins and Napolioni Nalaga have been sidelined with calf and ankle injuries respectively while Cameron Shepherd is out with an adductor strain.

 

Coming into the side is Alfie Mafi who has enjoyed his best ever start to a season and on the opposite wing Samu Wara makes a first run-on appearance.  Harvey lines up at fullback where his superb field kicking will be put to good use.  While best known as a playmaking first receiver, Harvey is just as adept at 15 where he has spent plenty of time in club rugby.

 

Tupou’s appearance will mark a successful conversion to rugby from league where he made his start two years ago by scoring a match winning try for the North Queensland Cowboys on debut.  A former Australian Schoolboys rugby representative, Tupou is an exciting young talent returning to his roots and is coming off a strong performance for the Emirates Western Force A side last weekend.

 

In the forwards emerging second row star Sam Wykes and capped Wallabies prop Pek Cowan return to the tight five while Angus Cottrell earns a run-on debut in the backrow after three substitute appearances.

 

Despite a big turnover in playing stocks from last round Graham said the squad has got on with the job at hand and are ready and raring to put in a big performance to secure the club’s first win of the season.

 

“It hasn’t changed the way that we prepare, we just need to be strong in our mental approach and understand that a core group of players have been constant in the first three games and it’ll be their responsibility to ensure that we play the way we want to,” said Graham as the team departed Perth for Sydney on Thursday morning.

 

“It’s wonderful to see Will Tupou and Dave Harvey make their Super Rugby debuts, they join a proud list of players to have represented the club.”

 

Graham said the breakdown battle will be a pivotal duel where the likes of David Pocock and Matt Hodgson will face a couple of familiar faces with former WA based flankers Jono Jenkins and Tevita Metuisela starting for the Tahs.

 

“Having coached with Michael Foley and Alan Gaffney I know the Waratahs side will be well prepared,” Graham said.

 

“You can see that the Tahs want to be more aggressive at the breakdown and it’ll be important that we control that aspect of the game.

 

“Four of our first five games are derby encounters.  While the results of the first two didn’t go our way it’s important that we continue to work hard and believe in what we’re doing in order to get a result.

 

“Games against your fellow countrymen are always extremely competitive and given the need for both teams to secure a win I don’t expect this week’s match to be any different.”

 

On the substitutes bench Phoenix Battye returns as does Winston Stanley with second row recruit Toby Lynn (hand) and midfielder Patrick Dellit (cork) both unavailable for selection after picking up niggling injuries against the Hurricanes.

 

 

Saturday, 17 March 2011 at Sydney Football Stadium

Kick-off: 4.40pm (AWST) / 7.40pm (AEDT)

 

1. Pek Cowan

2. Nathan Charles

3. Salesi Ma’afu

4. Sam Wykes

5. Nathan Sharpe

6. Angus Cottrell

7. David Pocock (Captain)

8. Matt Hodgson

9. Brett Sheehan

10. James Stannard

11. Alfie Mafi

12. Rory Sidey

13. Will Tupou

14. Samu Wara

15. David Harvey

Reserves

16. Ben Whittaker

17. Kieran Longbottom

18. Phoenix Battye

19. Richard Brown

20. Justin Turner

21. Ben Seymour

22. Winston Stanley