The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies have found fallen short to the Force in a 38-36 defeat in their last regular season match against the Force this afternoon at Viking Park as they now look ahead to finals rugby.
The visitors in the Force would strike first through a strong maul finding its way over the line presenting a golden opportunity early for Malcolm Heke who grabbed a five-pointer within as many minutes.
In the 14th minute, the Force would continue to show off their maul following a lineout close to the home sides in-goal. Once again the Western side found success similarly to the first try as Heke went over again on the opposite side of the field.
Extending their early lead, the Force managed a linebreak coming out of their own half before passing on the ball to winger Brooklyn Teki-Joyce who showed she has plenty of speed to burn as she made her way to the tryline.
The home side began their bounce back soon after with Flyhalf Faitala Moleka taking a chance for a penalty goal at the 20 minute mark before the Brumbies would manage to swing momentum their way. Just three minutes later 2024 try scoring sensation Tania Naden pounced on a beautiful short ball to touch down for a try under the posts, converted by Moleka.
Continuing to prove she is unstoppable close to the line, Naden constructed another maul to get across for her second try oof the match just six minutes after her first. To complete their early chase of the scoreboard, Moleka seemed to have the ball on a string as she cemented a conversion from close to the sideline.
Another try-scoring weapon for the Brumbies in 2024, Sally Fuesaina proved her efforts have not just been a fluke as she crashed her way over in the 38th minute to give the home side the lead for the first time of the match as they head into the sheds.
Coming out firing in the second half, the Brumbies would pick up where they left off as fullback Ashley Bishop's kicking game would prove crucial in gaining key territory early as both sides fought for position in the first 15 minutes.
However the Force would claw their way back to a level score through Sara Cline finding her way across the white line in the 16th minute, which was then converted by Sammy Wood.
Getting within a sniff of the lead the Force continued their newfound momentum as loosehead prop Alapeta Lianola Ngauamo found a five-pointer of her own which was then added to by Wood nailing another conversion as the visitors found themselves back in the lead.
The Brumbies vice captain Naden proved she was not yet finished with her try-scoring franza on Saturday afternoon as the hooker managed to complete her hat-trick in the 62nd minute to take the score to 29-31 in favour of the visitors.
Continuing the back and forth affair Cline then responded to extend the Force's final tally to 38-29 following another successful conversion from Wood.
Fighting until the very end, fullback Ashley Bishop secured a full field running effort with 2 minutes left until full-time, however just falling short in the end.
Western Force 38 (Tries: Malcolm Heke 2, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Sara Cline 2,Alapeta Lianola Ngauamo; Conversions: Sammy Wood 4) def Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies 29 (Tries:Tania Naden 3, Sally Fuesaina, Ashlea Bishop; Conversions: Faitala Moleka 4; Penalty Goals: Faitala Moleka)
