Jayden Hayward stretches for the line to score the match-winning try
for the Force against the Reds on Saturday night

Rugby WA Media Release –

The Western Force has recorded four consecutive victories for the first time in the club’s history after edging past the Queensland Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Trailing 29-25 with six minutes remaining in the see-sawing affair, Force fullback Jayden Hayward stepped through two tackles to fall over the line and score, with his successful conversion helping claim the narrow three-point win.

Head Coach Michael Foley said while he was pleased with the victory, there was improvement left within the team.

“We had to step up [tonight],” he said. “I think the boys are rapt to get the result tonight but while the boys showed a lot of character, we didn’t play our best footy and the nice thing about the way the guys are is that no-one hides from that.

“We don’t get too carried away about the results. When we had the first two games – which were poor performances – we tried to be as thorough and as clinical as we could be in terms of our analysis and what we needed to do differently.

Sias Ebersohn added 17pts off the boot – including a
drop goal – to help the Force to yet another victory
over their bunnies, the Reds

“When we look at tonight’s performance, we’re thrilled to get the result, and I thought the Reds fought us all the way to the death, but we didn’t play our best footy and we will need to step up to beat the Waratahs.

“The Waratahs are one of the top sides in the comp and if we do step up then we give ourselves the best chance.”

Against the Reds, the Force survived an early scare when Luke Morahan, playing against his former side, diffused a near Rod Davies try when he knocked free the ball from the Queensland winger’s grasp over the try line.

Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn then catapulted the Force to a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes on the back of four successful penalty goals.

When Force flanker Angus Cottrell received a yellow card for a shoulder charge at 24 minutes, momentum swung the way of the Reds with Ben Tapuai and James Slipper both finding space out wide to cross to claim a 14-12 by the time Cottrell returned.

Having their full complement reinstated, the visitors began working away at the deficit and after 16 phases in the Queensland half No.8 Ben McCalman crashed over to claim a 17-14 lead a minute out from half-time.

However, with little separating the two teams on the field, Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper ensured nothing did on the scoreboard either when he levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time.

Mike Harris wrestled back the lead with a penalty after 54 minutes, before Pek Cowan and Ebersohn provided to put Morahan over for a try in his Queensland return.

Harris added another three penalty goals – interrupted only by an opportune Ebersohn drop goal – to give the Reds a 29-25 lead with five minutes remaining.

However, the Force’s patience and ability to work the ball into the Reds’ quarter eventually resulted in Hayward stepping through the defence to cross adjacent to the posts.

The Reds created an opportunity to level the scores after the siren with Cooper’s drop goal attempt narrowly drifting away to the right of the uprights.

The Force will return home to take on the NSW Waratahs at the ‘Force Field’ (nib Stadium) on Saturday, 12 April.

Western Force 32 (Ben McCalman, Luke Morahan, Jayden Hayward tries; Sias Ebersohn 4 pens, drop goal, Jayden Hayward con) defeated Queensland Reds 29 (Ben Tapuai, James Slipper tries; Quade Cooper 2 cons, pen, Mike Harris 4 pens)