May 26 (Reuters) – Western Force pushed the visiting Lions
one step closer to the wooden spoon by winning their Super Rugby
match 17-11 in Perth on Saturday.
Force trailed 8-3 at halftime after an early try to Lions
winger Michael Killian but scored two tries after the break to
post their third win of the season after 14 weeks of the
southern hemisphere provincial competition.
The Lions suffered their 11th loss of the season but cobbled
a bonus point by finishing within seven points courtesy of a
penalty kick after the siren by replacement back Ruan Combrinck.
Force captain David Pocock drew the Force level by barging
over near the posts in the 58th minute and winger Napolioni
Nalaga sealed the win in the 71st with his team’s second try
shortly after Lions flanker Derick Minnie was shown a yellow
card.
The Johannesburg-based Lions remain two points behind the
second-bottom Auckland Blues in their battle to avoid the wooden
spoon.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Mark Meadows;
ian.ransom@thomsonreuters.com; +61 3 9286 1447; Reuters
Messaging: ian.ransom.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the Reuters
sports blog Left Field go to: blogs.reuters.com/sport;
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