Filipo Daugunu, the Queensland Reds winger, delivered a heart-stopping blow to the Western Force by scoring a last-gasp try, marking the Perth side’s first defeat in the Super Rugby Pacific season.
As the clock ticked down, acting captain Fraser McReight opted to forego a penalty kick to draw level, a decision that could have sent the game into ‘super point’ extra time.
The Reds instead chose a lineout, a move that paid off brilliantly as Daugunu seized the moment, darting from a ruck to crash over the line and secure a thrilling 28-24 victory on Saturday.
Filipo Daugunu of the Reds celebrates a try. Getty
Earlier in the match, Daugunu had returned to the field at HBF Park after successfully passing a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
The Force now sit at 2-1, having previously enjoyed hard-fought victories in their opening two matches, while the Reds boast a record of 2-0, having had a bye in round one.
Flanker Carlo Tizzano continued to impress for the Force, scoring twice and winning a key duel against his Wallabies teammate McReight.
“The Western Force will be scratching their heads over how they lost that match,” Morgan Turinui commented on Stan Sport.
“They had 60% possession and made 58 incursions into the opposition 22. They executed their game plan well; this is a formidable Western Force team.
“They should have a successful season ahead. The Reds, however, found a way to win. Their bold decision not to kick for three points shows their intent to secure the victory.”
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An outstanding performance from Reds halfback Tate McDermott, who prior to being substituted had been instrumental with his agile running.
“Tate made a tremendous impact; he played a massive game,” Reds coach Les Kiss remarked to Stan Sport.
“I was a bit disappointed at times. He opened up so many opportunities for us, but we failed to finish them clinically. Tate truly represents our ethos.
“We never give up, and he always manages to find a way back into crucial moments of the game.”
Reds centre Josh Flook, who notched up two tries, left the field after sustaining a hamstring injury.
“That’s definitely a concern. We’ll have to evaluate it overnight,” Kiss added.
The Reds will now head to Christchurch to clash with the Crusaders, while the Force travel to Sydney for a showdown with the NSW Waratahs.
“It’s absolutely gutting,” Force coach Simon Cron expressed.
“We must perform better. We had the game within our grasp, yet we faltered. Our decision-making deteriorated as we started kicking towards the centre instead of staying calm and composed.”
Cecilia Smith of the Force passes the ball. Getty
Earlier that same day, the Force also displayed resilience in a nail-biting Super Rugby Women’s match, managing a 29-29 draw against the ACT Brumbies in Perth.
Force substitute Samantha Treherne scored a try in the dying moments, with Nicole Ledington converting from the sideline to level the scores.
Brumbies playmaker Faitala Moleka was given a chance to steal victory after the siren, but her penalty attempt from nearly 40 metres fell wide.
“We’re quite disappointed,” remarked Force coach Dylan Parsons.
“We were aware it was our responsibility to maintain control throughout the game, but we fell short at times. The Brumbies were gritty and fought back well.
“They probably deserved the win. We managed to escape with a draw and earned two competition points. Our discipline was a critical issue; we conceded 13 penalties, eight of which occurred at the breakdown. We didn’t put in the hard work early enough, which forced us into making poor decisions.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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