Nineteen years ago today, on a memorable day in 2006, the Western Force made their Super Rugby debut in front of a packed Subiaco Oval, with 37,037 enthusiastic fans in attendance. The atmosphere was electric as foundation captain Nathan Sharpe led the team onto the field, joined by notable players like Brendan Cannon, Matt Hodgson, Matt Henjak, and Scott Staniforth. The Sea of Blue greeted them with a standing ovation, setting the stage for an unforgettable match.
The ACT Brumbies, however, were quick to make their mark. Mark Chisholm intercepted a pass from Matt Henjak, sprinting away to score the first try of the game. The Western Force responded with Scott Daruda scoring the club’s first-ever Super Rugby points through a penalty kick, narrowing the gap to 8-3 early in the second half.
The Force’s defining moment came when they scored their inaugural try, igniting the crowd. Henjak initiated the play from the halfway line, with full-back James Hilgendorf breaking through the defense. He passed to Digby Ioane, who kept the momentum going by offloading to Hodgson. Hodgson then flicked the ball to Henjak, who set up Scott Fava for a thrilling run from the 22-meter line, scoring with his tongue out in celebration. Daruda’s successful conversion gave the Force a 10-8 lead.
Despite the Force’s spirited performance, the Brumbies regained control, capitalizing on injuries to Josh Graham and Lachlan MacKay. Stephen Larkham’s precise pass allowed Joel Wilson to score, and shortly after, future Force star Matt Giteau combined with Larkham and Stirling Mortlock to seal the victory for the Brumbies.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, marking the beginning of the Western Force’s journey in Super Rugby, filled with promise and potential.
Read more: https://westernforce.rugby/news/on-this-day-xxx-202529
