The Western Force have fallen short in a tight contest against the NSW Waratahs in their final SMARTECH Super Rugby Women's pre-season trial game, going down 29-19 on Saturday.
The reigning Super W champions jumped the Force to lead 10-0 in the first half but the hosts rallied, closing within three points with 10 minutes to go at UWA Sports Park.
But Wallaroo Georgina Friedrichs scored a late converted try to clinch victory for the Tahs.
The Force will be buoyed by plenty in their display with Fijian winger Adi Vani Buleki and Black Ferns loose forward Pia Tapsell among the standouts.
Tapsell was among the tries, along with boom recruit Ashley Marsters and Sheree Hume.
The Waratahs’ quality in the scrum told at times, along with their depth, but the Force kept them worried throughout.
The Force open their Super W season next Saturday from 2:05pm WST against the ACT Brumbies at HBF Park in a curtain-raiser prior to the Force-Reds' Super Rugby Pacific game. The defeat means the Force's pre-season ends with two wins and a loss.
Loretta Mailangi almost got over in the sixth minute, only for a Tahs steal on the line, before a lightning quick Buleki burst down the right edge which almost led to the opening points.
But it was the visitors who went ahead with captain Emily Chancellor barging over. In a flash the Tahs were 10-0 up, when Desiree Miller laid off for front-rower Bridie O’Gorman to cross.
Winger Samantha Treherne nearly got on the end of a clever Georgia Cormick box kick down the left, while Tamika Jones forced a steal as the Force regained some momentum.
That turned into points when Wallaroo Ashley Marsters showcased her array of power and skill to dot, with fly-half Grace Freeman adding the extras to narrow the score to 10-7.
Buleki was binned before half-time, and the Tahs looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage, with Anneka Stephens making a crucial last-ditch tackle, before a relieving turnover from Jones. But the visitors would score through Kaitlan Leaney on the siren.
In the second 40, Tapsell was one of the stars, intercepting and racing into the 22. From that play the Tahs went a player down, with Faliki Pohiva carded.
After the Force lost a crucial scrum, Stephens produced a vital steal to get on the offence again and Tapsell dotted the Force’s second try to make it 15-14.
Ex-Force front-rower Seneti Kilisimasi barged over, with Tiarne Cavanagh’s conversion ensuring it was a two-score game.
Otago outside back Sheree Hume displayed quick feet to find a way to narrow the gap again down the left edge, making it 22-19.
But the Tahs had the final say, with Friedrichs producing a moment of class to score.
Western Force 19
Tries: Marsters (31’), Tapsell (56’), Hume (66’)
Conversions: Freeman 1/1, Ledington 1/2
Penalties: Nil
NSW Waratahs 29
Tries: E.Chancellor (17’), O’Gorman (20’), Leaney (40’), Kilisimasi (62’), Friedrichs (77’)
Conversions: Miller 0/3, Cavanagh 2/2
Penalties: Nil
@ UWA Sports Park
