The Western Force produced a stirring fightback to secure a crucial 29-20 bonus-point victory over the Highlanders at HBF Park in Perth.
Key moments:
10′ – Sam Gilbert penalty (0-3)
14′ – Carlo Tizzano try, Ben Donaldson conversion (7-3)
17′ – Jona Nareki try, Sam Gilbert conversion (7-10)
20′ – Sam Gilbert try, Sam Gilbert conversion (7-17)
27′ – Sam Gilbert penalty (7-20)
37′ – Brandon Paenga-Amosa try, Ben Donaldson conversion (14-20)
42′ – Mac Grealy try (19-20)
47′ – Harry Potter try (24-20)
48′ – Sean Withy red card (knee to the head of Potter)
52′ – George Poolman try (29-20)
56′ – Sio Tomkinson yellow card (dangerous tackle)
66′ – Jona Nareki yellow card (repeated infringements)
80′ – Carlo Tizzano turnover secures bonus point
After trailing 20-7 midway through the first half, the Force scored 22 unanswered points to catapult themselves into the top four of the Super Rugby Pacific standings heading into their bye week. The victory—their fourth from eight matches—moves them ahead of both the Waratahs and Brumbies in what is becoming an increasingly competitive Australian conference.
In-form flanker Carlo Tizzano was once again at the heart of everything positive for the Force, scoring his 11th try of the season and pulling off a match-defining turnover in the dying seconds to preserve the bonus point. The 25-year-old, who reportedly has a lucrative overseas offer on the table but is expected to remain in Perth, continues to mount a compelling case for Wallabies selection with his all-action performances.
The Highlanders, seeking to arrest a three-match losing streak, started brightly with fullback Sam Gilbert opening the scoring with an early penalty after a strong scrum from the visitors. The Force responded almost immediately as Tizzano crashed over from a well-executed rolling maul in the 14th minute, with Ben Donaldson adding the extras.
The visitors enjoyed a dominant 10-minute spell which saw them race to a 20-7 lead. First, winger Jona Nareki showed impressive strength to bounce through two tacklers and score in the 17th minute. The dynamic winger powered his way through a pair of Force defenders before diving over the line with Gilbert converting.
Just three minutes later, Gilbert himself finished off a spectacular counter-attack that started deep in Highlanders territory. Thomas Umaga-Jensen made the initial break, bursting into open field before a series of well-timed passes found Gilbert in support who crossed for a try he then converted himself. Gilbert’s penalty in the 27th minute gave the Highlanders what appeared to be a commanding advantage.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically late in the first half. The Force began to impose themselves physically, working their way into Highlanders territory with a more direct approach. Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa reduced the deficit after the Force’s maul once again proved too powerful for the Highlanders’ defence. The former Wallaby drove over from close range in the 37th minute with Donaldson’s conversion cutting the deficit to six points.
On the stroke of half-time, the Force produced their most cohesive attack of the match. A patient multi-phase build-up stretched the Highlanders’ defence before fullback Mac Grealy spotted a gap and sliced through to score. Donaldson’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but the home side had reduced the Highlanders’ lead to just a single point at the interval.
The Force began the second half with renewed intensity and completed their comeback five minutes after the restart. Will Harris, freshly introduced from the bench, made an immediate impact with a powerful carry that created momentum. The ball was quickly recycled to Donaldson who sprinted clear into open space before drawing the last defender and sending Harry Potter away for a well-constructed try that gave the Force their first lead since the opening quarter.
The try was marred by controversy as Highlanders number eight Sean Withy slid into Potter with his knee, making contact with the winger’s head. Initially yellow-carded by referee Jordan Way, the sanction was upgraded to red upon review by TMO James Leckie, leaving the visitors a man down for the remainder of the match.
The numerical advantage told almost immediately as replacement George Poolman extended the Force’s lead following a scintillating break from Max Burey. The substitute fly-half, showing off his sevens pace, carved through the Highlanders’ defence before delivering a perfectly timed pass to Poolman who crossed for his first try of the season. The five-pointer gave the Force a bonus point and stretched their lead to nine points.
At 29-20, the home side appeared to be cruising, but a yellow card to Sio Tomkinson – playing his 50th Super Rugby match against his former club – for a dangerous tackle on Gilbert briefly evened the numbers. Tomkinson, perhaps over-eager to impress against his old teammates, was sent to the sin bin after dumping Gilbert dangerously in a ruck clearout.
The Highlanders sought to capitalise on the temporary numerical parity, launching several attacks into Force territory, but the home side’s defence held firm. The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped when winger Jona Nareki became the third player to be sent to the sin bin, receiving a yellow card in the 66th minute for repeated infringements as the Force maintained pressure through their rolling maul.
Despite being reduced to 13 men at one point, the Highlanders mounted a desperate late surge. Captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, who had been a constant threat throughout, nearly scored a spectacular solo try after breaking from his own half and charging 60 metres upfield. It took a heroic defensive effort from the Force, capped by Tizzano’s last-gasp turnover on his own try line, to secure all five points and send the home crowd into raptures.
The result marks the fourth consecutive defeat for the Highlanders, who now find themselves stranded in ninth place on the ladder with just two wins from seven matches. For Jamie Joseph’s men, who started the season with such promise after upsetting the champion Blues in round two, questions will need to be answered about their alarming slide.
“We probably didn’t start the way that we wanted to, but it shows the grit of the boys and we really bit down on the mouthguard,” said Force captain Jeremy Williams. “We managed to get the momentum back and kept coming and coming, and it’s a great win ahead of the bye.”
Highlanders skipper Timoci Tavatavanawai cut a frustrated figure after his side’s fourth straight loss. “We let them in, in the last ten minutes [of the first half] by our mistakes, giving away penalties and it hurt us in the end,” he said.
The Force’s victory was built on solid foundations. Marley Pearce was tireless in the tight, Williams dominated the lineout, and Will Harris made a significant impact off the bench. In the backline, Donaldson controlled proceedings well, while Grealy and Potter provided constant threats with ball in hand.
The Force also suffered an early setback with the loss of Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch, who departed in just the seventh minute after appearing to aggravate his heavily-strapped left knee. His replacement, George Poolman, proved to be an effective substitute, scoring a crucial try and providing energy in both attack and defence.
For the Highlanders, Tavatavanawai was a standout performer with several powerful carries that consistently put the Force on the back foot. Thomas Umaga-Jensen also showed glimpses of his class in midfield, but the visitors were let down by poor ball handling and an inability to play the territory game effectively. Their scrum, anchored by the returning Ethan de Groot, started strongly but failed to maintain that dominance as the match progressed.
The Western Force will now enjoy a well-earned rest before facing a daunting schedule that includes three consecutive matches against New Zealand teams, including away fixtures against the Chiefs and Blues. For Simon Cron’s men, the victory provides the perfect platform as they look to secure a playoff berth in the business end of the season.
The Highlanders return home to face the Fijian Drua in Dunedin, with their season hanging by a thread. With Sean Withy likely facing a suspension after his red card, coach Jamie Joseph faces some significant selection challenges as he attempts to salvage his team’s faltering campaign.
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