Reds defeat Western Force at Perth to secure home play-off game in 2011 Super Rugby Championship
2011 Super Rugby Australian Conference leaders, Reds, have confirmed a home play-off game after they defeated their fellow Australian team Western Force at the Perth Oval on Saturday, June 11.
Reds’ substitute winger Dominic Shipperley’s 77th minute try helped his side to overcome the four point’s deficit in the dying minutes of the game to help his squad register their 12th win in the season. Reds currently are placed on
the top of the combined Super Rugby table with 62 points coming from the 15 games they have played in the season so far.
Force were playing in front of their home crowd and started the game strongly. Force’s star player, James O’Connor, was in the match as full back and put the home side in the lead in the first minute of the game. O’Connor successfully kicked the penalty
to set the tempo for the Reds’ side. In the senenth minute, Force’s Rory Sidey scored the first try of the match to extend the lead by eight points but Force failed to score the conversion.
Reds’ gathered momentum and came back strongly with their fly half Quade Cooper’s try and conversion in the 12th and 13th minute of the game. Force recovered the ball possession and sent Sidey to score his second try in the 20th
minute of the game.
Both teams were playing open, attacking and speedy rugby that helped create lots of scoring opportunities. Reds flanker Scott Higginbotham’s 29th minute try followed by the Cooper’s successful conversion put the visitors in the lead for the first
time in the game. O’Connor scored on his second penalty of the game in the 33rd minute to the take the scorecard to 16-14 and it remained that way until the end of the first half.
Reds were trailing in the match and started the second half strongly. They were first to score in the second half courtesy of Cooper’s 42nd minute penalty. In the following passage of the game, both teams tried to control the game and ball possession
but failed to do so.
In the 67th minute of the game, Force’s flanker David Pocock scored a try to leave the visitor trailing by four points. Force tried hard to extend the lead but failed to do so before Shipperly’s late show ended up spoiling the hosts’ party.
Reds will play their last round match against the Chiefs at Hamilton on June 18.
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