The Western Force’s road struggles have continued with a 7-6 loss away to the Highlanders in a game riddled with ball handling errors at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday evening.
The defeat dents the Force’s top-eight aspirations in the run home for Super Rugby Pacific finals, with the visitors unable to score a try across the 80 minutes, despite creating numerous opportunities.
Despite the scoreline, it was an entertaining end-to-end affair, as the Highlanders scored the game’s only try in the 47th minute through industrious scrum-half Folau Fakatava.
The Force had led 3-0 at half-time courtesy of Ben Donaldson’s penalty late in the first half. Donaldson added another three points in the 54th minute to cut the gap to one point after Fakatava's converted try.
The visitors had their chances, with Jeremy Williams bursting inside the 22 in the 76th minute followed by Michael Wells getting within 10, only for a Reed Prinsep knock-on to turn the ball over, summing up the game.
The Force found dominance at the scrum, winning 10-5, but conceded 20 turnovers for the game, regularly surrendering good field position. The Highlanders were guilty of that too, with 18 turnovers.
Force acting captain Nic White said post-game: “We knew it was going to be a tough one. Last pass stuff. We created opportunities and weren’t able to capitalise.
“Bloody disappointing. I thought we played really well. That’ll be a tough one but we’ll learn from it. We’re going to feel like that’s just another one that we’ve let slip.”
The result sees the Highlanders move up to eighth on 15 points with a 3-6 record, while the Force – who take one bonus point for a one-loss defeat – are 12th on 10 points.
The Force defence stood firm early upon Highlanders’ attacking pressure, before switching play with Hamish Stewart breaking inside the 22 but unable to find the final pass.
The visitors had another close call in attack after Bayley Kuenzle’s run down the right, before Sam Spink was forced into touch on the left edge, with the resultant lineout almost falling kindly for unsuspecting lock Sam Carter with the try-line in his sights.
Despite losing fly-half Rhys Patchell to injury, the Highlanders won a battle of the kicks, earning a lineout on the 22, only for Carter to produce a big steal.
The Force came under pressure in the 28th minute after Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’ kick into the corner, but the visitors came up with a huge turnover with a scrum penalty 5m from the try-line.
The WA side built pressure from a Carlo Tizzano turnover, eventually settling for three points from Donaldson’s boot in the 37th minute from a penalty.
The Highlanders almost replied with a try immediately when Timoci Tavatavanawai crossed down right edge, only for the official to have correctly adjudged his right foot to have touched the touchline.
The Force had five clean breaks in the first half but were unable to turn any into a five-pointer.
The Highlanders’ ball handling errors were on show when Jake Te Hiwi made a break, offloading for Connor Garden-Bachop who knocked on inside the 22.
But the Otago side would score after phase upon phase of pressure, with the Force defence holding Fabian Holland and Te Hiwi at bay on the line, before Fakatava scooted past Chase Tiatia to score with Cameron Millar converting.
Donaldson was unable to take the chance to narrow the gap in the 50th minute, missing a 40m penalty kick after the Highlanders were penalised for not rolling away.
But three minutes later he got another shot, much closer this time, after Fakatava was penalised for hands in the ruck, slotting this opportunity from 15m to make it 7-6.
The Force mustered up a late opportunity following Feleti Kaitu’u’s improvised line-out set-piece for Izack Rodda, with Williams and Wells driving the side within range, only for Prinsep to mishandle.
Millar missed an 80th minute penalty kick, offering the Force one last chance but couldn’t win the ball from the drop-out.
Highlanders 7
Tries: Fakatava (47’)
Conversions: Millar (1/1)
Penalties: Millar (0/1)
Western Force 6
Tries: Nil
Conversions: Nil
Penalties: Donaldson (2/3)
