Stormers (SA)

Emirates Western Force

The Stormers broke Western Australian hearts with a late try to steal a 26-25 win over the Western Force in their Tooheys New Super 14 clash at Subiaco Oval on Friday night.

The Force led with four minutes left in the match but panicked under pressure and allowed the swarming Stormers loose forwards to get control and go over for the winning try.

Good kicking put the Force on attack early in the match and they pounded the Stormers' line with multiple phases of flat and incisive back line running. A long pass put fullback Cameron Shepherd in the clear out wide and he scored a try after just four minutes. He slotted the easiest of conversions for a 7-0 lead.

Shepherd added 3 more points after 16 minutes when flanker Schalk Burger was penalised for diving into a ruck 40 metres out in the centre of the field.

The Stormers plugged away on attack, often failing to cross the advantage line, but their patience was rewarded after 26 minutes when Burger crashed the ball up the centre after multiple phases, handing onto halfback Bolla Conradie and flyhalf Naas Olivier for the try.  Olivier converted from in front.

A minute later the Stormers launched another attacking foray, flanker Luke Watson busting mediocre tackles to score beside the posts. Olivier added the extras and the Stormers led 14-10 from nowhere.

The Force ripped back into attack, pinning the Stormers on their line until the visitors were penalised for coming into a ruck offside and Shepherd landed an easy kick from the 22 six minutes before the break.

The Stormers finished the half on attack but the Force defence recovered its composure, with centre Josh Graham stopping several movements dead. The Stormers opted for two late penalty lineouts but could not ground the ball and the Force clung on to go into the break 14-13 in arrears.

The Stormers opened the second spell on attack and worked a set move that saw inside centre Jean de Villiers cut through the line for Conradie to score in close. Olivier converted and the Stormers went ahead 21-13.

The Stormers started to dominate territory and possession, aided by aimless kicking and penalties conceded by the Force and looked to be getting away with the match.

But the Force broke out after a Stormers knock-on and opted for a penalty lineout in the 53rd minute.  From a scrum in front of the posts, the Force stacked the blindside and centre Scott Staniforth barrelled over for a try.  Shepherd missed the difficult conversion and the Force trailed 21-18.

In the 67^th minute, the Force spun the ball across the park where replacement winger Gavin de Bartolo kicked ahead from the halfway, the ball bounced at right angles and de Bartolo re-gathered to score a spectacular try under the posts. Shepherd converted and the Force were in front with just 12 minutes to play.

The Force threatened the score again after a Scott Fava charge but the support put the ball down with the tryline beckoning.   

That was all the Stormers needed and after putting pressure on the home team the Force panicked kicking the ball out and giving the ascendancy to the visitors.

From a scrum five out from the Force line, flanker Luke Watson crashed his way over for the winning try and steal the game from the luckless Western Force.