Force take out win

The Western Force kicked off their pre-season at Lark Hill on Friday night with a 69-3 demolition of Samoa A.

The Force shared their 11 tries throughout the team, with new recruit Luke Morahan the only multiple try scorer, touching down for two tries from fullback.

In blustery conditions and in front of more than 2000 people, it was the Samoans who drew first blood through a Ki Anufe penalty goal.

However, it would be the last time the Force would concede points, with Ben McCalman putting scrumhalf Alby Mathewson over for his side’s first try of the year on the stroke of quartertime.

A long-range counter attack, started and finished by fullback Jayden Hayward, and an unstoppable McCalman run from the back of a tighthead scrum, extended the Force’s lead to 19-3 at the half-time break.

While head coach Michael Foley opted to make a series of changes at the interval, it did nothing to stop his side’s momentum, with the Force scrum drawing an early penalty try, Ed Stubbs and Pek Cowan both crossing, and a rampant Brynard Stander helping to set up winger Patrick Dellit who scored untouched in the corner.

Leading by 42 points going into the final quarter, the Force completed the rout with Morahan’s double, Stander dotting down from the back of the scrum and young outside back Dylan Sage showing significant pace to run around the Samoan defence and score under the posts.