Ryan Lonergan leads Brumbies to crucial win over Western Force

Ryan Lonergan has provided the spark to steer the ACT Brumbies to a much-needed 32-15 win against the Western Force in Canberra.

Going into the clash having lost six of their past eight games, the Brumbies needed a victory at GIO Stadium on Saturday to cement their position inside Super Rugby Pacific’s top six.

Captain and halfback Lonergan was instrumental in achieving that, scoring a try, nailing two crucial penalty goals, and registering 69 passes to help his side leapfrog the Queensland Reds into fifth, with only two games remaining for the team.

It wasn’t smooth sailing as the teams tussled for possession and dominance, despite a fast start for the hosts when young gun Lachie Shaw crashed over the line inside two minutes.

Leading 14-10 at halftime, Lonergan edged the Brumbies further ahead when he slotted a penalty goal before scuttling over the line in the 52nd minute to lay the platform for victory.

But Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano crossed to keep the visitors in the contest, before Lonergan kicked another penalty goal and local product Chris Mickelson sealed the game with a try in his Super Rugby debut.

After being promoted to the starting lineup, winger Ollie Sapsford showed why he deserves more minutes, scoring a try and running for 44 metres while veteran Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa returned from a concussion and made 14 tackles.

The Force badly needed a win to stay in the finals conversation, but the Brumbies’ second-half composure was enough to put their postseason hopes on life support.

They will also count the cost of the defeat after scrumhalf Henry Robertson was helped off the field by medical staff with a suspected leg injury in the first half.

It took just over a minute for the Brumbies to get on the scoreboard when Shaw picked up the ball from the ruck and scurried across the line.

The Force settled, and were rewarded when prop Harry Johnson crashed over, before Sapsford re-established the Brumbies’ lead following a blistering run by fellow winger Corey Toole.

After halftime, Lonergan converted a penalty goal before scoring his try when he received the ball from a scrum and dived across the line.

Tizzano closed the deficit when he wrestled over for a five-pointer from a lineout maul, but Mickelson fell over the line just moments after coming off the bench to ice the victory in the 75th minute.