The Western Force finished their Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific on a high with a 31-25 win over the NSW Waratahs at a rain-soaked HBF Park on Saturday night.
The win, an impressive fifth in six games, sent them into seventh spot, leapfrogging the Waratahs as they finished the season with a seven win-seven loss record, their best in 12 years.
The victory handed them a season double over their Australian rival - only the third time they have managed the feat in Super Rugby.
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
Carlo Tizzano grabbed a second-half double, including the game-winner, to move into the Club’s outright lead for most tries in Force history (32).
Neither side could make the finals but pride was on the line in the club’s Members Game and the Force scored five tries to the Waratahs three in difficult conditions.
Force winger Dylan Peitsch grabbed a first-half double, Ben Donaldson converted the first, while Waratahs hooker Ioane Moananu and winger Harry Potter both scored. Fy-half Jack Bowen added two conversions and two penalties.
After the break Force prop Misinale Epenisa closed the gap with a try and flanker Carlo Tizzano overtook foundation member Cameron Shepherd's long-standing 30-try Force record with a double. Donaldson converted the first and Kurtley Beale the second.
Waratahs reserve prop Apolosi Ranawai scored between Tizzano's brace.
The Force were on the back foot from the start and despite pressure at the breakdown could not get their hands on the ball.
After constant pressure, Moananu picked from a ruck to score, converted, and as the visitors continued to pile on the pressure Bowen added a penalty.
It took the Force 20 minutes to get to the Waratahs line but after a set-piece move Tizzano was held up. At the other end Bowen slotted his second penalty.
Straight from the deep, quick kick-off former Force winger Potter fumbled over the line where a chasing Pietsch managed to get the slightest of touches for downward pressure. Donaldson converted.
The scoreboard kept ticking over and soon after Potter strolled over after 13 phases on the Force line, converted.
Waratahs centre Joey Walton was yellow carded for a high tackle on scrum-half Nathan Hastie and from the line-out the ball was sent wide to Pietsch who side-stepped through the defence for his second.
The conversion hit the post and the Force went into the break eight points behind.
The needed to make inroads into the Waratahs line and break their dominance after the re-start and opened the scoring when Epenisa barreled over.
Their set piece began to assert supremacy and after three penalties, rolled the dice, going to the scrum in front of the posts each time instead of taking three points.
It paid dividends when Tizzano emerged from the bottom of a pile, Donaldson converted, but then Ranawai put the visitors one point ahead when he surfaced from under his own pile-up.
The Force forwards went to work at the line-out and it was Tizzano who again emerged with the ball after a great drive. Beale converted.
Beale had the chance to seal the win from a 42-metre penalty, pushed the kick wide but the Force came home with the points.
Enjoyed the ride!?! Register your interest in a 2027 Western Force Membership today
Western Force
Tries: Pietsch (24', 34'), Epenisa (47'), Tizzano (61', 71’)
Conversions Donaldson 2/4, Beale 1/1
Penalties: Nil
NSW Waratahs
Tries: Moananu (13'), Potter (28’), Ranawai (66')
Conversions: Bowen 2/2
Penalties: Bowen 2/3
Crowd: 5,289 @ HBF Park
