The Western Force have slipped to a heartbreaking, drama-filled super-point 22-17 loss to the NSW Waratahs in appalling conditions at HBF Park on Saturday night.
With the game tied at 17-17 - the same score as the Force's historic first super-point draw against the Hurricanes earlier this season - and the clock in the red, Waratahs winger Darby Lancaster acrobatically dived into the corner to snatch the points.
A massive defensive effort from the Force in the Round 15 game, Members' Round, was not enough to bring home the points.
On a dramatic night, firstly Kurtley Beale, with Ben Donaldson suffering a knee injury, had the chance to take the points but his 55-metre penalty in the dying seconds of normal time drifted past the upright.
Then, in Super Point time reserve Alex Harford, who replaced Donaldson and in just his second game for the Force, had his chance for glory but his 45-metre kick missed too, hitting the foot of the post.
Homegrown flanker Carlo Tizzano stretched his lead at the top of the 2025 try scoring ladder with 13 five-pointers and claimed the crown as the best-ever Super Rugby try-scorer for a forward in the history of the competition with a first half effort.
Full-back Mac Grealy and centre Hamish Stewart added one each before the break.
Tahs' winger Triston Reilly and Lancaster both scored first- half five-pointers.
The result leaves the Force in danger of collecting the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific wooden spoon and gave the Waratahs the slimmest of chances to make the finals.
A torrential downpour an hour before kick-off, and more huge falls during the game, brought greasy conditions and a game of attrition.
There was willing contact in the opening salvos from both sides who employed a kicking game, particularly from the base of the ruck, hoping to take advantage of the conditions.
The Force were starved of possession and territory early in the first period and their defence put in a sensational shift.
Force coach Simon Cron had brought seven big names back to side - Tizzano, Nic White, Harry Potter, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Nick Champion de Crespigny and Stewart.
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar left winger Andrew Kellaway at home with an illness, replacing him with Wallaby Lancaster.
Prop Taniela Tupou started for the first time since round seven but amazingly there was no scrum in the first- half and he was yellow-carded for a trip early in the second.
The Force got off to shocking start when Reilly intercepted 53 metres out after just three minutes and raced home. Tane Edmed converted.
It took just another seven minutes for Tizzano to crash over in the corner for his record breaking try.
Lancaster increased the Waratahs lead when he was given a simple trot home to the corner. Edmed converted.
But in their best spell of the game the Force added their second five-pointer after 32 minutes with Mac Grealy finishing off a sweeping move down the left flank.
And then centre Hanish Stewart broke through for a solo effort.
It sparked a boilover between plenty of players from both sides that spilled over the dead-ball line when Stewart took exception to being hit late as he scored.
When the scuffle ended Ben Donaldson converted to give the Force a three-point, 17-14, lead at the break.
The visitors rode out the Tupou yellow card and were handed consecutive penalties close to the line, but the Force pack turned the tables on the Waratahs scrum under their posts to clear with a penalty of their own.
The pressure came back on the Force line and Tiaan Tauakipulu was yellow-carded with six minutes remaining after a team warning for repeated infringements.
Tahs reserve Jack Bowen levelled the scores with the resulting penalty after 74 minutes before Lancaster had the final say, his try awarded after a long deliberation by the officials checking the grounding.
The Force squad will have a fortnight off, before returning to training ahead of the Saturday 28 June clash against the British & Irish Lions at Optus Stadium to start the series.
Tickets to the Force-Lions game are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Western Force 17
Tries: Tizzano (10'), Grealy (32'), Stewart (37')
Conversions: Donaldson 1/3
Penalties: Nil
Waratahs 22
Tries: Reilly (3'), Lancaster (18,' 89')
Conversions: Edmed 2/2
Penalties: Bowen 1/1
Crowd: 5,165 @ HBF Park
Western Force Match Report, Powered by Altrad
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