The Western Force have kept their Super Rugby Pacific finals aspirations alive after a hard-fought 19-14 victory over the Queensland Reds at HBF Park on Saturday night. A pair of tries from Carlo Tizzano and a five-pointer from Mac Grealy proved decisive, as the Force held off a late Reds surge to secure their fifth win of the season.
Match Overview
The Force moved into ninth place on the ladder, cutting the gap to the sixth-placed Reds to six points. However, Queensland's bonus point means they remain more than one game ahead with only two matches remaining in the regular season.
First Half Action
Tizzano opened the scoring in just the second minute, celebrating his 50th appearance for the Force with a try from a rolling maul after Max Burey's pinpoint penalty kick to touch. The Reds responded through Harry Wilson and Joe Brial, with Brial's try leveling the scores at 7-7 after a powerful build-up involving Carter Gordon's 50-22 kick.
The Force defense then came to the fore, denying Queensland on multiple occasions under penalty advantage. Zac Lomax made a crucial intercept to snuff out a Reds attack, and despite some nervy moments, the hosts held firm to go into the break locked at 7-7.
Second Half Drama
After the interval, the Force regained the lead through Grealy, who opportunistically scooped up a loose ball after Lomax failed to gather Burey's high kick. The Reds hit back through Tim Ryan to make it 14-14, but Tizzano's second try, finished after a sweeping move down the wing, restored the advantage.
The Force almost extended their lead through Nic Dolly and Vaiolini Ekuasi breaks, but handling errors from Nathan Hastie proved costly. The Reds threatened a late comeback, but Kurtley Beale stripped Joe Brial in the final play to seal the victory.
Key Performances
- Carlo Tizzano: Scored two tries and was a workhorse in attack and defense, pressing his Wallabies claims with Fraser McReight rested.
- Zac Lomax: Impressed under the watchful eye of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, growing in prominence as a carrier and under the high ball.
- Max Burey: In a rare start, the fly-half was influential with his kicking game and made a crucial try-saving tackle.
- Brandon Paenga-Amosa: Provided a vital on-ball penalty to relieve pressure at a key moment.
Set Piece Woes for Reds
The Reds missed rested lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, losing six of their 14 line-outs, which disrupted their attacking platform. Despite a late flurry, they could not overcome the Force's resolute defense.
The victory came just one day after Force coach Simon Cron extended his tenure until 2027, providing a boost to the club's long-term stability.
