SYDNEY, March 17 (Reuters) – Fullback David Harvey
scored 16 points on his debut as the injury-hit Western Force
upset a disappointing NSW Waratahs 21-20 in Sydney on Saturday
for their first win of the Super Rugby season.
The 29-year-old Harvey, on a short-term contract as the
Force struggle to cope with the many injuries to their squad,
scored a try and kicked three penalties and a conversion to end
his new side’s run of three losses.
It was a fully deserved win for the Force, who controlled
possession and territory for long periods and bossed the
breakdown against a lethargic Waratahs side.
“Very proud of the team and the way we gutsed it out,” Force
captain and openside flanker David Pocock said in a pitchside
interview.
“It’s been a tough time as a group but we know where we are
going and we have hung pretty tough and we have got our first
win.”
The home side started brightly with a try in the third
minute, Wallabies utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper touching down
after loitering at the back of a powerful Waratahs rolling maul.
Harvey slotted over a 10th-minute penalty to cut the deficit
and the momentum swung fully in the Force’s favour in the 16th
minute when Waratahs lock Dean Mumm was sent to the sin bin.
A minute after the lock was penalised for hitting the ball
out of the hands of Force scrumhalf Brett Sheehan, Harvey
crossed for a try after cutting a great line and collecting a
nifty offload from flyhalf James Stannard.
The Force dominated possession from then on but conceded a
second try just before halftime when Waratahs winger Tom
Kingston collected a loose ball and won a sprint to the corner.
Continued…
