Force Fall Short After Second-Half Surge

Napier, New Zealand – The Western Force came up short in a hard-fought battle against the Hurricanes, ultimately falling 31-23 on Friday night. Despite a promising first half and a strong start to the second, the Force were unable to withstand a determined Hurricanes comeback.

The Force led 8-5 at halftime, but the Hurricanes responded with four tries in a 20-minute span, shifting the momentum decisively. Late tries from Darby Lancaster and Lopeti Faifua weren’t enough to close the gap.

Williams Laments Second-Half Dip

“That first 20 in the second half we got punched in the face a bit,”

Jeremy Williams, Western Force Captain

Captain Jeremy Williams acknowledged the team’s struggles after the break. The Force captain expressed frustration with their inability to capitalize on early momentum.

“Really great reply in the end. Only if there was five more minutes, eh?”

Jeremy Williams, Western Force Captain

Key Stats and Performance

While the Force lost the metres gained battle 461-273, they demonstrated strong defensive work, beating 22 defenders compared to the Hurricanes’ 20. The teams were evenly matched in clean breaks, with the Hurricanes edging the Force 6-7.

Force coach Simon Cron highlighted the team’s discipline issues in the second half, noting that they conceded four penalties and turned the ball over four times, providing the Hurricanes with crucial opportunities.

“That 40-60 minute mark today really hurt us. We gave away four penalties in a row and turned the ball over four times. That’s eight chances for the Hurricanes.”

Simon Cron, Western Force Coach

Looking Ahead: Lomax Arrival and Upcoming Fixtures

The Force will have a bye week to regroup before hosting the Chiefs on March 28th. The club is also anticipating the arrival of NRL convert Zac Lomax, with coach Cron expressing excitement about his potential.

“He’s a great man… He’s really driven. He’s talented. He’s been wanting to play rugby the whole time. He’s biting at the bit to play rugby. He feels like that’s his future.”

Simon Cron, Western Force Coach

Cron indicated that Lomax will initially be targeted for positions on the wing or at fullback, with a focus on developing his backfield coverage and positioning.

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