Rugby: Force wit and grit mixture too strong for Bulls

Sias Ebersohn. Photo / NZPA

The Western Force were left singing in the rain after producing their trademark grit in a 15-9 win over the Bulls in Saturday night's Super Rugby clash in Perth.

On a wet and slippery night, a perfect five-from-five penalties from Sias Ebersohn was enough to lift the Force over the line, with the result catapulting the Perth-based franchise into third spot on the table.

The Force were made to defend grimly in the last 10 minutes, with players bravely putting their bodies on the line time and again to deny the Bulls' surge to the line.

Brynard Stander typified the Force's efforts, with the substitute flanker left with blood streaming from his head after contesting several desperate breakdowns in the dying minutes.

Although the Force came away with the win and improved their work at the scrum, their lineouts remain a worry, with a number of throws being pilfered by the Bulls. But they have next week's bye to work on any issues before their two-game tour of South Africa.

The first half was akin to a game of chess, with both sides employing a kick-heavy game plan in their bid to gain valuable ground. With the consistent rain making for slippery conditions, it was all a matter of who was going to blink first in the AFL-like kick-to-kicks.

It was the Bulls who erred - on multiple occasions.

Fullback Jurgen Visser made the first genuine blooper of the night when he stepped outside his own 22m as he kicked for touch.

Flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter was the next to falter when he dropped a high ball in his own 22m, while Visser made another error when he grassed Ebersohn's short chip.

Each mistake gave the Force excellent field position but they couldn't come close to the tryline as the Bulls' defence held firm.

Three penalties to man-of-the-match Ebersohn at least gave the Force a 9-6 edge at the break, and the scoreline read 12-6 when the first-five put over another shortly after the break.

With the rain holding off early in the second half, the Force started to employ more of a running game.

But it was still the high ball that was paying the biggest dividends, with the Force almost crossing in the 58th minute when winger Nick Cummins created a spillage and his teammates pounced on the loose ball.

Although the try didn't eventuate, another penalty to Ebersohn extended the Force's lead to nine points.

That gap was reduced to six in the 63rd minute, but the Force wouldn't be denied victory in front of 14,227 screaming fans.

"The guys played for each other and got the result out of sheer guts," Force coach Michael Foley said. "They were very tricky conditions against any team, but particularly against the Bulls because it suits their way of playing.

"I thought we had to show a lot of patience and discipline to get the result."

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the Force played the conditions well.

"I thought it was a very tactical game," he said.

"At the end of the day they forced some great turnovers, especially in the first half. That was smart by them."

- AAP