Brumbies 25-17 Western Force: Hosts surge to first win of season
Last Updated: 10/03/17 1:55pm
The Brumbies scored two late tries against 14-man Western Force to snatch a 25-17 win and record their first win of the Super Rugby season.
The Force were leading 17-13 with 10 minutes to go when lock Ross Haylett-Petty was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Brumbies scrum-half Joe Powell.
The home side took full advantage as centre Kyle Godwin and replacement hooker Robbie Abel touched down to overhaul the Force and secure their first win after two close losses.
The Force began full of intent and looked dangerous every time they touched the ball as they spun it wide.
They had two golden opportunities early on but Chance Peni was denied a try when he was called for a double movement, before a pass went behind him soon after with the tryline at his mercy.
The Brumbies absorbed the pressure and began to work their way into the game, and were rewarded when Wallabies winger Henry Speight powered over from close range.
The home side used their superior scrum to dominate the Force and they doubled their advantage six minutes before the break when New Zealand-born fly-half Wharenui Hawera crossed following some good lead up work by Powell.
But right on half-time the Force finally got on the board, hooker Heath Tessmann crashing over at the back of a rolling maul from an attacking lineout.
The visitors started the second half the way they started the first but this time they were rewarded for some expansive running rugby with a try in the corner to Peni three minutes after the restart.
Fly-half Jono Lance converted from the sideline to give the Force a 14-10 lead.
A Harewa penalty narrowed the gap to 14-13 with 15 minutes to go, only for Lance to restore the four-point advantage from a scrum penalty two minutes later.
But the Force were dealt a huge blow minutes from full-time when Haylett-Petty came through a lineout and took out Powell.
From the next play Godwin crossed against his former club to put the home side ahead, then Abel, who had only been on the field a matter of minutes, barged over to deny the visitors a losing bonus point.