The Western Force were unable to open their Super Rugby Pacific account, going down 22-14 to Moana Pasifika at HBF Park on Friday night.
For moments the Force looked like they could get their first win on the board but a valiant fightback fell short as Pasifika ground out a tough victory.
They were unable to keep momentum for long periods and could not recover from a 12-point lead built by the visitors early in the second half.
Coach Simon Cron was forced to make a late change with veteran scrum-half Ian Prior coming onto the bench, replacing Nic White who was suffering from knee swelling.
Pasifika opened with their customary flair, happy to throw the ball around from a solid base.
But the Force were also happy to showcase their own expansive game with some swift passing against a rush defence, often using fly-half Ben Donaldson on a loop ball to good effect.
The Force upset the visitors' line-out, were solid on their own, and were able to withstand plenty of pressure at the scrum even when flanker Carlo Tizzano was yellow-carded on 30 minutes.
The visitors had the best of the first quarter but the Force had a great chance to open the scoring early when Ben Donaldson went through the defence and fed Will Harris.
But as the No.8 raced to the line his pass went behind the back of Fines-Leleiwasa and was spilled.
Discipline was key for the Force but they were hurt by five penalties in the first 15 minutes as Pasifika gained momentum.
The Force defensive pressure looked like taking a toll on the Pasifika side for a while but it was almost 30 minutes before they were awarded a penalty of their own.
Pasifika went ahead when, with the Force under threat of a yellow card after back-to-back penalties, the pressure told and from a line-out on 17 minutes hooker Sama Malolo crashed over from a rolling maul.
The Force hit back and took the lead four minutes later when Chase Tiatia, on the end of a swift handling move, popped a neat chip over the defence where Bayley Kuenzle in his first start of the year, raced through to gather a perfect bounce to score. Donaldson converted.
But they came under more pressure when hit by Tizzano's yellow card for a head clash in a tackle with Moana fullback Danny Toala.
Pasifika then retook the lead shortly before the break, perfectly executing a tap move that sent veteran prop Sekope Kepu under the posts for his first Super Rugby try in six years. Christian Leali'ifano added the extras.
The Force opened the second-half with a more direct approach through centre field with numerous phases.
But Pasifika stretched their lead to 12 points when Leali'ifano collected a ball over the top of a line-out and gave the perfect inside pass to Kyren Taumoefolau who weaved his way home. Leali'ifano converted.
Tizzano made up for his earlier misdemeanor, diving over after a well-executed line-out play on the hour as the Force looked to launch a fightback. Donaldson added the extras to cut the lead to five points.
A monster penalty by William Havili from beyond the halfway line took the Pasifika out to an eight-point lead with eight minutes remaining.
The Force continued to push but they were hampered by mistakes and Moana were able to seal the game.
Western Force 14
Tries: Kuenzle (21'), Tizzano (61')
Conversions: Donaldson (2/2)
Penalties: Donaldson (0/2)
Moana Pasifika 22
Tries: Malolo (17'), Kepu (35'), Taumoefolau (47')
Conversions: Leali'ifano (2/3)
Penalties: Havili (1/1)
Crowd: 5,480
