Waratahs outclass Western Force 31-3 in Super 15
Updated: April 09, 2011, 10:16
PERTH, Australia(AP) The New South Wales Waratahs thrashed the Western Force 31-3 to sweep all four fellow Australian sides so far in Super 15 rugby on Saturday.
What was expected to be a close match going by history never looked like happening, as the Waratahs kept such a tight hold on the ball that the Force had to make four times as many tackles for more than an hour.
The Waratahs simply laid siege to the overworked Force defense and waited for the barest of openings for their four tries.
Wallabies scrumhalf Luke Burgess worked off his pack's dominant effort to set up the first three tries, then winger Drew Mitchell scored his second and earned the Waratahs a bonus point.
Flyhalf Kurtley Beale kicked five from eight goalshots, including converting his own second-half try.
James O'Connor booted over the only points for the Force, who were dealt their fifth loss in seven matches.
Beale nailed only one of his first three attempts at goal, and O'Connor's first success tied the score at 3-3 after a first quarter in which the Waratahs made all the running.
It took 31 minutes for the first crack to be exploited, when Burgess broke down the blindside off a scrum and drew the last man to run in midfielder Tom Carter.
Six minutes later, Burgess ran sideways off a ruck and threw a beautifully weighted behind-the-back pass to Mitchell, who steamed through the gap 45 meters out and wrong-footed two defenders to score.
With a 17-3 lead in their pocket, the Waratahs made the result certain just after an hour thanks to stolen lineout ball. Burgess broke and passed to Beale, who jinked his way to between the posts for an easier conversion.
Replacement Dave Dennis then busted a tackle and Mitchell beat Carter to the pass for his second try in the 67th.
The result maintained the Sydney-based Waratahs' perfect record in Perth, with four wins from as many appearances.
Next week, the Waratahs travel to Auckland, and the Force play ACT.
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New South Wales 31 (Drew Mitchell 2, Tom Carter, Kurtley Beale tries; Beale 4 conversions, penalty), Western Force 3 (James O'Connor penalty). HT: 17-3.
