Western Force stunned the Crusaders with a sensational 37-15 win at HBF Park on Saturday night, a victory that took them off the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
Their first win over the Crusaders in more than a decade came off the back of a massive defensive effort, often repelling wave after wave of Crusaders attack on their own line.
They scored four tries and Ben Donaldson kicked five penalties and a conversion with some impressive long-range kicking.
The Crusaders, 12-time champions including back-to-back in the last two seasons, were as desperate as the Force for victory but they now languish at the foot of the table.
New signing Kurtley Beale made his Force debut at full-back, impressing with some nice touches and injecting himself into the line.
He was also able free up fly-half Donaldson and allow him to control the backline.
Beale's first touch under the highball would have settled any nerves and he made an incisive break midway through the first-half only to see a potential try-scoring pass knocked back by Crusaders scrum-half Mitchell Drummond.
Coach Simon Cron had second row Izack Rodda, back after a long injury lay-off, among the finishers but was forced to introduce him after 20 minutes when Thomas Franklin was taken off injured.
Argentine prop Santiago Medrano, returning after missing the last game the Blues before the bye with head injury protocols, was immense in an outstanding first-half pack effort.
The Crusaders were strong in centrefield early, battering at the Force defence before looking for numbers in space out wide.
The Force played with composure despite the Crusaders having 60 percent of both possession and territory in the first 40 minutes and it was the home side who were dominant.
Their line speed put the Crusaders under pressure and they flooded the breakdown giving the visitors no opportunities or quick ball.
The Crusaders split the Force defence after just four minutes, straight running and good hands saw centre Levi Aumua cross out wide.
But the Force then added 16 points and kept the Crusaders pointless.
Donaldson put the first points on the board with a penalty five minutes after the Crusaders try.
Then, in a well worked move, their back three linked in centerfield to set Chase Tiatia free to race home midway through the first half.
Donaldson missed the conversion but added a second penalty on 25 minutes.
The Force lifted their defensive effort when Carlo Tizzano was yellow-carded for a try-line ruck infringement 10 minutes before the break.
And they stretched their lead on the siren, opting for a line-out after a penalty and from the maul hooker Tom Horton crashed over to give his side a 16-5 lead at the break.
They needed to keep their intensity and Donaldson kept the clock ticking over with a long-range penalty before reserve Crusaders front-rower George Bell forced his way over for a hotly contested try.
Donaldson added yet another long range three pointer after Sevu Reece had gone over in the corner.
Second-rower Sam Carter then took a line-out ball before ending up scoring on the end of a rolling maul and Tizzano iced the cake with a try on the final siren. Donaldson converted.
Western Force 37
Tries: Tiatia (18 '), Horton (41), Carter (72'), Tizzano (79')
Connversions: Donaldson (1/2)
Penalties: Donaldson (5/5)
Crusaders 15
Tries: Aumua (3'), Bell (50'), Reece (58')
Conversions: Hohepa (0/3)
Penalties: NIL
Crowd: 7,526 at HBF Park
