The
Western Force delivered a first-half try frenzy to make it two wins from two
games in pre-season, downing the ACT Brumbies 42-12 at Scotch College Playing
Fields on Friday afternoon.

In warm but
windy conditions, the Force ran in five first-half tries, opening up a 35-0
lead at the break to take strong form heading into their Round 1 clash against
the Brums in a fortnight’s time.

Prop Tom
Robertson and openside flanker Carlo Tizzano scored first-half doubles as the
Force forward pack flexed their muscle.

Fly-half
Ben Donaldson delivered the best try of the lot with a brilliant kick and chase
try, while Henry Robertson rounded out the scoring late, after the Brumbies
rallied in the second 40.

The result
offers optimism for Simon Cron and the Sea of Blue heading into the 2026 Swyftx
Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Force
took an early lead with Wallabies prop Robertson coming up with the ball after
a pack of bodies charged over the try line.

UWA product
Tizzano added a second in the 18th minute from a lineout maul,
darting over as it fell apart, with Donaldson adding the extras for a 14-0 lead.

Donaldson
then scored the try of the half, as the Force repelled a Brumbies attack with Mac
Grealy leading the counter-attack.

Grealy
offloaded for Donaldson who kicked in his own half and raced past Shane Wilcox
for a brilliant kick-chase try. Donaldson maintained his perfect record from
the tee for a 21-0 lead.

The Force forwards
got to work again from a 15m attacking lineout, with Robertson crossing from a
maul.

The
attacking phases kept mounting for the Force, with Tizzano barging his way over
a fifth for the home side in the first half. Donaldson converted for a 35-0
half-time lead.

In the
second half, Kane Koteka was yellow carded for repeated Force infringements. The
Force defence held strong despite their numerical disadvantage, holding up
Darcy Breen over the line.

But the
Brumbies persisted and would get on the scoreboard on the hour mark via a
penalty try.

Will Harris
produced a penalty turnover in the Brumbies’ attacking 15m enabling the hosts
to close it out.

Western
Force 42

Tries: T.Robertson
(5’, 36’), Tizzano (18, 40’), Donaldson (26’), H.Robertson (77’)

Conversions: Donaldson 5/5, Burey 1/1

Penalties: Nil

ACT
Brumbies 12

Tries: Penalty Try (60’), Bowron (74’)

Conversions: Meredith 0/1

Penalties: Nil

@ Scotch College
Playing Fields, Swanbourne