Will Harris and newcomer Coby Miln both scored hat-tricks as the Western Force triumphed 73-19 over Perth Gold in the side’s final tune-up prior to their three-game South Africa tour.
The Force won 11 tries to three, racing to a 47-7 half-time lead in a contest that was at times scrappy, in front of the Sea of Blue on the hill at UWA Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
Back-rower Harris, who was one of only three players to play the full 80 minutes, completed his treble before half-time.
Reigning NSW Shute Shield top points scorer Miln impressed after entering the game at half-time, with his hat-trick, while also nailing three conversions.
New signings Nic Dolly and Nick Champion de Crespigny were also among those to impress with their physicality and drive.
George Poolman, Harry Potter, Dolly, Justin Landman and Titi Nofoagatotoa all scored tries alongside the Harris and Miln trebles.
For Perth Gold, Associates back-rower HD Stemmet, Wests Scarborough flyer Kauri Tipene-Grace and 2024 PG Hampshire winner Matty Lansdown scored their tries.
Reflecting on the Force's first game since the end of the Super Rugby season in June, acting Force head coach Will Eggleston said: “It was a chance to finally play somebody who didn’t know our calls. We got some good contacts out of it.
“We won’t pick the bones out of it too much, but there were some good tries out there and some good individual performances too, so we were relatively happy with what we got out of it.”
The Force will fly out of Perth on Wednesday for South Africa ahead of a three-game spring series tour where they’ll face the Toyota Cheetahs, Emerging Ireland and DHL Western Province XV.
The Force started strong, with wing Poolman opening the scoring in the second minute after acting captain Reed Prinsep’s line break, before Potter burst clear racing 60 metres to dot after swooping on an errant pass. Potter was playing competitively for the first time since sustaining a syndesmosis injury in March.
A rolling maul try to Dolly followed by Harris barging over opened up a 26-0 lead, while full-back Mac Grealy showed composure on the defensive end to thwart Filimone Muavou’s probing kick in behind.
Local back Justin Landman, fresh from winning the WA Fortescue Premier Grade title with Associates, worked a one-two with Poolman to score down the left edge to make it 33-0.
Perth Gold hit back after Hayze Nepia’s line break, with Stemmet getting over under the sticks.
Harris grabbed two tries within two minutes, first getting home from Max Burey’s well-weighted left-foot chip, before Landman helped him down the left edge.
Miln made an instant impact in the second half with a try barely 60 seconds after the restart, but Perth Gold started to create pressure in the Force’s defensive 22.
That paid off with Tipene-Grace’s try from a kick into the left corner, although Miln replied to make it 61-14.
Landman had a try disallowed for a forward pass before Miln scored again. Lansdown intercepted for a running try which stirred up the boisterous small crowd.
New signing Divad Palu played a key role in the final try, bursting through the Perth Gold defence, allowing Nofoagatotoa to get over.
Western Force 73
Tries: Poolman 2’, Potter 6’, Dolly 16’, Harris 20’, 34’, 35’, Landman 24’, Miln 41’, 51’, 73’, Nofoagatotoa 78’
Conversions: Burey 6/7, Miln 3/4
Penalties: Nil
Perth Gold 19
Tries: Stammet 28’, Tipene-Grace 48’, Lansdown 75’
Conversions: Lansdown 2/3
Penalties: Nil
@ UWA Sports Park
