Western Force scored another historic and battling win, 36-20 over the Brumbies in Canberra, in their crucial and final regular round game of the Swyftx Super Rugby Women's season on Sunday.
After becoming the first Australia team to beat reigning champions Waratahs last week the Force notched another first at a chilly and windy Viking Park, winning three consecutive games in a Super season.
They had already secured a semi-final spot going into the clash while the Brumbies were fighting to secure their progression into the next stage.
The Force scored four first-half tries from prop Hera Barb Malcolm Heke, winger Adi Vani Buleki, scrum-half Sam Wood and reserve Atawhai Hotene, with two from the Brumbies, to take a 24-12 lead into the break.
Force reserve forwards Yuna Sato and Taylor Waterson scored two more five-pointers in the second period with the home side grabbing their third. Wood kicked three conversions
The Force got off to a flying start. Playing with the breeze they camped on the home line, turning down three consecutive penalties that brought a yellow card to Brumbies hooker Tania Naden.
The home side were caught napping, expecting another line-out from the third penalty, only to see Wood take a clever, quick tap and feed Malcolm Heke in space out wide with just four minutes on the clock.
Three minutes later winger Buleki showed great skill to control a poor pass, break two tackles and stretch out in the corner.
The Force suffered a huge setback, hit with a 20-minute red card to centre Celia Smith for a high tackle, that left her with a nasty head gash.
Their defence was resilient with a player down and they were strong at the breakdown but finally cracked when prop Linda Emelio smashed her way over under the posts. Converted by Merania Paraone.
Wood stretched her side's lead to 10 points on the back of a dominant Force scrum and some big carries, darting through the Brumbies defence to score before converting.
As the game swung from end-to-end Brumbies second-rower Jess Grant closed the gap again before Hotene, who had just replaced Smith, made an immediate impression, collecting a lovely pop pass from fly-half Grace Freeman to cross. Wood converted.
The Brumbies opted for an early penalty after the break, leaving them nine points down, before the Force were reduced to 14 for the second time with prop Alapeta Nguamo yellow carded for a high tackle.
Desperate scramble and goal line Force defence kept the Brumbies at bay but the visitors' penalty count mounted and they were put on a warning.
They began to dominate the scrum that had been a weapon for the Brumbies this season and their fast line speed added further pressure.
After marching down the ground their forwards went to work from a line-out with Sato going over, Wood converted, but the Brumbies hit back soon with winger Paua Lee Going crossing in the corner.
The Force iced the win when Waterson went over after the siren for the bonus point.
Western Force
Tries: Malcolm Heke (4') Buleki (7'), Wood (27') Hotene (35'), Sato (65'), Waterson (79').
Conversions: 3/6
Penalties: Nil
ACT Brumbies
Tries: Emelio (19'), Grant (31'), Going (66')
Conversions: Paraone 1/3
Penalties: Paraone 1/1
