The Western Force’s Super Rugby Men’s U16s campaign has ended in a thrilling defeat, falling 45-43 to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra in a 14-try epic on Tuesday.
The Force led by as much as 24 points early in the second half, before the Brumbies thundered over for five of the last six tries to triumph at Viking Park.
The narrow loss ended the Force’s campaign with one win and three defeats over the past few weeks in Canberra and Sydney.
The Force scored seven tries, with doubles to impressive Kalamunda outside backs Kobi Treffery-Koenders and Travern Ackerman-Fifita. Palmyra midfielder Tevita Muli Uasilaa was menacing throughout, while Palmyra fly-half Longoatu Jr Vaka had some moments of brilliance with ball in hand.
Force scored first, with Treffery-Koenders’ bullet pass to the right finding Kalamunda teammate Ackerman-Fifita who darted through and dived to score. But the Brumbies replied inside 10 minutes with a converted Ashton Jamieson try.
The Force re-claimed the lead on the quarter of an hour, after Uasilaa’s barging 30m run down the middle. Ackerman-Fifita’s deft kick in behind allowed Treffery-Koenders to use his pace to dart in and score for a 12-7 lead.
Jamieson scored again before Palmyra fly-half Vaka produced a moment of magic, carving through the ACT defence on a slalom run, offloading to Treffery-Koenders to score.
Uasilaa showcased his quality on a 40m run, barreling past numerous defenders to score, opening up a 24-12 lead. It was 31-12 at the break after Vaka’s line break allowed Ackerman-Fifita to burst down the right edge and score.
The Force pulled clear 36-12 with Mandurah Pirates’ back-rower Troy Smith using low body height to drive through across the chalk.
But the Brumbies were determined to stay in the hunt, scoring through Josaiah Manuofetoa with Treffery-Koenders binned in the process. ACT capitalized on their numerical advantage with Jock Robinson scoring shortly after, followed by Billy Beetson for 36-31.
The Force steadied in the 54th minute, with Vaka’s cut-out pass finding Nedlands outside back Jaxon Prior for a relieving try for a 43-31 lead.
ACT kept coming, with scrum-half Luke Cullen spotting a gap to set up a Reuben Elliott try. Beetson then combined with Ryder Lupton to carve through and put the Brumbies ahead.
Western Force 43
Tries: Ackerman x2, Treffery-Koenders x2, Uasilaa, Smith, Prior
Conversions: Vaka 3, Prior 1
Brumbies 45
Tries: Jamieson 2x, Manuofetoa, Beetson 2x, Elliott
Conversions: Lauvao 1, Tuione 3, Lupton 1
