Nick Cummins scores hat-trick as Western Force beat NSW Waratahs 28-16
Western Force claimed a fifth straight Super Rugby win as Nick Cummins inspired them to a 28-16 win over the Waratahs.
Last Updated: 12/04/14 2:15pm
The Australia winger touched down once in the first half and twice in the second for a hat-trick of tries as the Perth franchise extended their record winning streak.
The Waratahs, who controversially lost Israel Folau before the match after the Australian Rugby Union withdrew him over concerns about his recovery from a throat injury, responded with a Kurtley Beale try in the last quarter but ended up soundly beaten.
The Australia winger touched down once in the first half and twice in the second for a hat-trick of tries as the Perth franchise extended their record winning streak.
The Waratahs, who controversially lost Israel Folau before the match after the Australian Rugby Union withdrew him over concerns about his recovery from a throat injury, responded with a Kurtley Beale try in the last quarter but ended up soundly beaten.
Although they outscored their rivals three tries to one, the Force success was built on a superb defensive effort as, time and again, they held the visitors at bay with ball in hand.
The Waratahs were on the board first as Beale slotted a couple of penalties in the opening ten minutes to put them 6-0 up.
Opportunistic
Although Sias Ebersohn kicked a penalty of his own to reduce the deficit, it was the Tahs who continued to press and they were on the front foot when Cummins grabbed the first of his scores.
With the ball being moved out wide, the left wing stepped in to intercept before racing almost the length of the pitch to dot down for a try converted by Ebersohn.
After Beranrd Foley had responded with a penalty, Ebersohn landed another three-pointer to send the hosts in 13-9 to the good at the break.
Despite starting the second half on the back foot, things got even better for the hosts when Cummins grabbed another opportunistic score on 50 minutes to extend their lead.
He had Force fans on their feet again just past the hour mark when he pounced on another loose ball, showed pace to race clear and then determination to get up once tackled and finish at the second time of asking to complete his treble.
The Waratahs finally got their first try in the 66th minute when Beale dived over in the corner, but they could not make any further inroads on the Force's lead, which Ebersohn actually extended with a late penalty to cap a memorable win.