The NSW Waratahs Women defeat a tough Force side 45-14 in Perth.
The NSW Waratah Women went to work early against the Force through a barnstorming Leilani Nathan.
Nathan, who has transitioned to Number 8 after Piper Duck was ruled out, made her presence felt with a barnstorming run to open the away sides account, Arabella McKenzie would then proceed to convert the try.
Ten minutes later and against the play the Tahs were able to swing the ball to the edge where Caitlyn Halse ran 35metres nearly untouched, pushing the lead to 12-0.
The Western Force however put together a solid 20 minutes period were through the boot of Sammy Wood were able to collect nine points from three successful penalty goals.
The Waratahs however had a late half surge, Brittany Merlo off the back off a perfectly executed rolling maul was able to find the try line and collect five points.
5 minutes later Leilani Nathan would barge over for her second try of the night and give the away side a 24-9 lead at halftime.
The Tahs began the second half like they ended the first, Maya Stewart created something from nothing was a kick return, handing Layne Morgan her first try.
No more than 5 minutes later Brittany Merlo decided to give the crowd a replay of her first try with another clinical rolling maul ending with the away side grabbing five points and Merlo snagging a double.
The Tahs kept their foot on the peddle with Maya Stewart joining into the backline and breaking through the line, she would then use her speed to cross over the line and push the Waratahs lead to 45-9.
ill-disciplined from the Tahs in the back end of the game saw debutant Ruby Anderson and veteran Atadi Lafai sent to 10 minutes in the bin.
The Force with two extra players were able to score their two and only tries finishing the game 45-14.
Captain Georgina Friedrichs had this to say after her team's performance.
“Pretty happy with the first half we came out with the focus to be physical, that was something we identified from last week on where we could improve from.
The Force being a real physical team, you saw we brought that in the first half but discipline let us down in the second half, it was disappointing to finish on.”
Western Force 21
Tries: Renea Nona, Michaela Leonard
Goals: Nicole Ledington 1/2
Penalty Goals: Sammy Wood 3/3
NSW Waratahs 45
Tries: Leilani Nathan, Caitlyn Halse, Brittany Merlo, Leilani Nathan, Layne Morgan, Brittany Merlo, Maya Stewart
Goals: Arabella McKenzie 5/7
Penalty Goals:
