Cats snatch draw from jaws of defeat

The Cats have snatched a remarkable 34-all draw, against the Western Force, from the jaws of defeat at Ellis Park in Johannesburg this morning (Aus time).

Down and out for the count at half time, the South Africans stormed back into the match with a convincing five tries to one second half performance that broke the hearts of the visitors.

Force captain Nathan Sharpe was a distraught figure as he faced the local media after the match, commenting that his team had the match at half time but let it slip again.

Force inside centre, and leading try scorer, Scott Staniforth claimed the man of the match award for a hat trick of tries.

Last weekend the Force stunned the Rugby world with a superb performance against the tournament trendsetters, the Canterbury Crusaders. Unlucky though not to win despite ending their losing trot, with a spirited 23-all draw.

They travelled to the republic of South Africa last Saturday morning, determined to carry the momentum, from the Crusaders match, with them and acclimatise ahead of this match.

Travelling with the team, and returning on the reserve bench, were Lachlan MacKay and Junior Pelesasa. Both players were injured in the opening two rounds of the tournament.

The wooden spoon was at stake as both teams ran out. Flyhalf Brock James kicked off for the Force, with the visiting team attacking, but unable to get over, the Cats line in the opening 10 minutes.

Despite being unable to break the Cats defense, Cameron Shepherd took aim from the half way line with a fourth minute penalty goal attempt that narrowly missed.

Springbok and Cats flyhalf Andre Pretorius slotted over the first points of the match in the 23rd minute from a penalty goal after Sharpe was ruled offside.

Staniforth replied from the restart, and lineout, as a lacklustre effort from Pretorius allowed the Force’s leading try scorer to rip through a huge hole in the midfield and cross under the posts.

On the half hour, quick ball movement by the Force forwards allowed flanker David Pusey to offload the ball to winger Digby Ioane after being ankle tapped by a desperate Cats defender.

Western Force went to the half time break holding a comfortable 21-3 lead, after Staniforth crossed for his second try of the match in the 37th minute.

Sharpe left the ground, in the closing minutes of the first half, with a blood nose, fortunately he returned after the break, though had difficulty as the wound reopened.

Rather ordinary defending by the Force, in the 42nd minute, allowed the Cats second rower Kleinjan Tromp to barge over. Pretorius was unable to add the extras.

Staniforth had the honour of notching his hat trick, in the 47th minute, when he linked up with Shepherd, who shrugged off a tackle attempt.

However, the Cats hit back through Tromp. Winger Delarey du Preez was on the receiving end of quick ball movement that had the Force defense stretched. Du Preez strolled over out wide.

A ruck infringement with the South Africans not releasing the ball, handed Shepherd with the chance to post more points for the Force, while the 40 metre distance usually troubles goal kickers at sea level places such as Perth, the thin air of altitude of Jo’burg saw the ball make the distance easily.

However, leading 31-15 the Force switched off and the Cats pounced with a further two tries, from Jaque Fourie and Willem Stoltz, to grab one point from the match for scoring four tries.

While Shepherd slotted over his second penalty in the 66th minute, the locals hopes where given a boost when the big bustling run of Stoltz crashed through and over the Force line with eight minutes remaining.

Pretorius ensured the match would go down to the wire when his third conversion bridged the gap to just five points, 34-29.

As the siren blew, the ball was in dispute. However the Cats received a penalty and with the Force looking for the sheds rather than holding out the attacking raid, Earl Rose found an unmarked Wylie Human who dived over in the right corner.

Pretorius missed the opportunity to snatch victory as his sideline conversion attempt sailed to the left of the sticks.

Next week, the Western Force trek to Kimberley for a showdown with fellow newcomers the Central Cheetahs, while the Cats host the Auckland Blues at Johannesburg. Both matches scheduled for Saturday.

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