Force hopes dented as Rebels post their biggest-ever home score

Melbourne have put a major dent in the Western Force’s Super Rugby Pacific finals aspirations and farewelled Rebels stalwart Reece Hodge from AAMI Park as a winner with a thumping 52-14 victory.

The loss wasn’t the only damage to the Force’s play-off hopes, with the WA club relegated to ninth by Queensland’s last-gasp loss to the Highlanders earlier on Friday night.

They were unable to pick up a point in the eight tries to two romp, while the Rebels, who will require a miracle in the last round to make the finals, at least gave their fans something to cheer about with the bonus-point victory.

Form XV of Super Rugby Pacific round 12 | The Breakdown

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Form XV of Super Rugby Pacific round 12 | The Breakdown

The match was the last at home for France-bound centre Hodge, who overtook Tom English as the most-capped Melbourne player with 99.

The 28-year-old was unable to get amongst the try-scoring action, with five of the Rebels’ forwards – Brad Wilkin, Sam Talakai, Josh Kemeny, Richard Hardwick and Vaiolini Ekuasi – sharing some of the spoils.

TOUGH Talakai! ?

Sam Talakai rips through the Western Force's defence to score his first ever Super Rugby try!#SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/oGJ57DXkap

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 26, 2023

Melbourne set up the win with their go-forward and dominance at the set-piece and breakdown. The rest of the tries were scored by Ryan Louwrens, Lachie Anderson and Nick Jooste in Melbourne’s biggest-ever score posted at AAMI Park.

Five-eighth Carter Gordon, who missed last week’s loss to the Highlanders with a knee injury, and veteran half-back Louwrens combined to spark the relentless Rebels attack. Bullocking centre Sam Spink scored a try in each half for the Force – intercepting a Gordon pass for his second.

But it was otherwise a disappointing performance to follow their breakthrough win over the Brumbies last time out. Currently 10th, the Rebels take on the third-placed Brumbies in Canberra in the final round. The Force will need to beat the ladder-leading Chiefs in Perth to force their way back into finals contention.