The Western Force have pushed back-to-back reigning Super Rugby Men’s U19s premiers ACT Brumbies all the way but fallen to a 35-17 defeat at Tompkins Park on Saturday.
The Force rallied from a 21-3 half-time deficit with two early second-half tries from powerful back-rower Luke Holt-Brown and impressive midfielder Chris Jansen in an encouraging effort.
But the Brumbies’ class ultimately told, led by fly-half Chace Oates, setting up the decisive try to Riley Whitfield away in the final quarter of an hour.
Both sides enjoyed periods of attacking possession but ACT were more clinical with the ball, creating chances and pouncing on any Force mistakes.
Co-captains Manaia TeTana and Wallace Charlie led the away again, while winger Peni Naqau was a constant threat with pace and elusiveness. Fly-half Brodie Mainwaring continually attacked the line too.
The Brumbies scored early when scrum-half Sam Watson charged down Mainwaring’s attempted clearing kick and dotted, with Oates converting for a 7-0 lead.
Mainwaring responded with the Force’s first points from an eighth-minute penalty kick.
Charlie and Wallace showcased their speed with bursts down the right and left flanks respectively, before Felix Cooper’s turnover with the Brumbies within reach of their tryline.
Associates flanker Cooper, however, would be binned with the referee awarded ACT a penalty try after Ewald Kruger tailed off the back of a maul.
Moments later, the Brumbies made their numerical advantage count with flanker Cooper Eagle finding a gap for their third try.
Force coach Damian Steele’s half-time message clearly hit with the side, who responded after the break with extended pressure on the ACT line, before Academy talent Holt-Brown dived over.
ACT replied almost immediately to restore their 18-point buffer when Oates released Dylan Bretton to score.
The Force came close only to miss out due to a maul infringement within 5m of the try line, but scored soon after through Wanneroo inside-centre Jansen.
After Holt-Brown’s drive, Roodogs teammate Tamarangi Tunui switched the attack to the shortside and Jansen powered over. Mainwaring’s conversion, off the post, narrowed the gap to 28-17.
Jansen went from offence to defence, producing a try-saving tackle to deny substitute Zander Ward, but ACT got the knockout blow with Whitfield dotting with 10 minutes to play.
The Force next are in action against the Queensland Reds in a Tompkins Park triple-header on Sunday 28 September.
Western Force 17
Tries: Holt-Brown (44’), Jansen (60’)
Conversions: Mainwaring 2/2
Penalties: Mainwaring 1/1
ACT Brumbies 35
Tries: Watson (2’), Penalty Try (25’), Eagle (27’), Bretton (46’), Whitfield (68’)
Conversions: Oates 4/4
Penalties: Nil
