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          Super Rugby Pacific 2023
          Western ForceWestern ForceWES
          34
          12/05FT
          14
          Fijian DruaFijian DruaFIJ
          • Manasa Mataele(4')
          • Folau Fainga'a(9', 64')
          • Jeremy Williams(42')
          • Carlo Tizzano(75')
          • Max Burey(11', 43', 66')
          • Max Burey(43')
          • Eroni Sau(15')
          • Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta(33')
          • Frank Lomani(16', 33')
          • SummarySummary
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          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
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          • TableTable

          Western Force keep Super Rugby finals hopes alive

          • AAP
          Multiple Authors
          Oct 13, 2023, 01:24 AM
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          Western Force are daring to dream of Super Rugby Pacific finals, keeping their hopes alive with a bonus point 34-14 win over Fijian Drua at HBF Park.

          The victory maintained the Force's unbeaten home record of four wins from four, and Friday's bonus point was crucial as they jumped the Drua and moved into the top eight.

          The Force scrum was bolstered by the return from injury of Wallabies Tom Robertson and Folau Fainga'a, with the latter grabbing two tries.

          The Force scrum was bolstered by the return from injury of Wallabies Tom Robertson and Folau Fainga'a, with the latter grabbing two tries. James Worsfold/Getty Images

          Max Burey, in just his second Super game, straightened the Force attack well and centre Sam Spink was bruising in midfield.

          The Force's carries through the middle were effective and they concentrated most of their wide attack on the left with right winger Zach Kibirige struggling.

          Coach Simon Cron went into the game with just two backs on the bench for the first time this season and would have been reluctant to make an early switch.

          His problem deepened when he lost left winger Manasa Mataele after 54 minutes with an eye injury.

          The Force took an early lead when the ball was moved quickly to Mataele who went over in the corner.

          They went further ahead when hooker Fainga'a ran a good line to crash over for his third try of the season, converted by Burey.

          After a slow start, the Drua clawed back, piling pressure on the Force defence as Eroni Sau found a hole to stroll through. His try was converted by Frank Lomani.

          The momentum swung further in the Drua's favour and they pummeled the Force line, edging ahead on the half hour with a converted try by Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.

          Burey restored the home side's lead with a penalty after the siren.

          The Drua were pointless after the break as the Force got off to a dream second-half start, second-rower Jeremy Williams driving over from the back of a maul.

          Fainga'a added his second from a rolling maul, Burey converted both, and homegrown flanker Carlo Tizzano added the fifth with his first Super try for the Force.

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          Standings

          Super Rugby Pacific
          RTeamGPPDP
          1CHI9+10931
          2HUR8+18431
          3BLU9+7929
          4ACT9+4925
          5QUE8-3622
          6CRU9+3921
          7NSW8-2819
          8FIJ9-9316
          9HIG9-5516
          10WES9-2614
          11MOA9-2224
          Full Table