The Melbourne Rising have suffered a close loss to the Western Force, going down 28-31 at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
In sunny conditions, the Rising’s first Victorian home game of the NRC was a match which developed into a try for try thriller, with the match winning five pointer scored with only four minutes to spare.
With the Rising up 28-26 in the 76th minute, the Western Force retook the lead and saw off an after the siren run of phases by the Melbourne side to hold on for a three-point victory.
For the Rising, tries to Isi Naisarani, Tom English, Kemu Valetini and Richard Hardwick kept the Force’s defence on their toes all day, while a brilliant kicking display by Archie King, who scored four conversions, was a highlight for the Victorian team.
For the Force, five separate tries to Heath Tessman, Brynard Stander, Harrison Orr, Tevin Ferris and Clay Uyen proved to be the difference, with Ian Prior adding three conversions.
The Western Force got off to a fast start in the sixth minute, when a rolling maul enabled Tessman to reach out and score a hard earned try, giving the visitors a 0-5 lead.
After a tense 10-minute period which saw the Rising dominate possession, the home side broke through when a four phase attack resulted in Richard Hardwick charging through the Force defence for a try. An Archie King conversion gave the Melbourne side a 7-5 lead.
After the half time siren, a well placed kick by the Force’s Harry Scoble saw a fortuitous bounce avert three Rising players, allowing Brynard Stander to score an uncontested try. A conversion to Ian Prior gave the Force a 7-12 lead at the main break.
At the recommencement of play, the visitors achieved the perfect start when in the 42nd minute, Tevin Ferris scored the Force’s third after a rolling maul. Prior made no mistake on a slight angle to give the Force a 7-19 lead.
The Rising responded quickly though, when a terrific run by Harrison Goddard set up Kemu Valetini, who ran through his first try of the game under the uprights. Another conversion to King cut the lead to five points, with the Rising trailing 14-19.
In the 58th minute, the Rising drew level when a series of wonderful ball movement from the breakdown, highlighted by a behind the back pass by Michael Ruru, allowed winger Tom English to score his first try. King’s third conversion for the match gave the home side a 21-19 advantage.
Down by two points, the Force upped the ante on attack, and after a strong lineout drive next to their own try line, Harrison Orr was able to cross for a five-pointer. Prior converted on a slight angle to regain the lead for the Western Australian side, leaving the Rising trailing 21-26.
With the game ebbing and flowing, the Rising kept try try for try pattern going when another multiple phase attack resulted in Isi Naisarani lunging for the try line and scoring. King kept his perfect conversion record for the match to give the Rising a 28-26 lead with 10 minutes to play.
In the 76th minute, a quick line break by the Force allowed winger Clay Uyen to streak away from the Rising defence for a try. A missed Prior conversion gave the Force a 28-31 lead with only four minutes remaining.
As the full time siren sounded, the Rising held possession and threw one last ditch effort to re-take the lead. However, a knock on 30 metres from the try line dashed any hope of a last gasp win.
Melbourne Rising: 28
Tries: Naisarani, English, Valetini and Hardwick.
Conversions: King (4)
Western Force: 31
Tries: Tessman, Stander, Orr, Ferris and Uyen.
Conversions: Prior (3)
