The Western Force have continued their winning start to 2019 with a 45-22 victory over the South China Tigers.
Scoring five tries to three, the hosts asserted their dominance on the visitors in their second game of the Series Showcase in Perth.
Though it was the Tigers who had the first points of the night, the Force took much of the dominance.
A power try from Masivesi Dakuwaqa, the first in the Force's history, lit up the crowd and provided the spark for the hosts to snatch the momentum.
@WesternForce Fijian sensation Masivesi Dakuwaqa scores the club's first ever Power Try #NoMoreBoring #RapidRugby pic.twitter.com/pqcXO2LOIt
— Global Rapid Rugby (@rapidrugby) March 29, 2019
Hughes was keeping the Tigers in the game, scoring their opening try and converting to stay in touch with the hosts.
A penalty try put the visitors in front midway through the first half but the Force never really looked like losing.
An Andrew Deegan try ensured the Force were back on the front foot and they held on to the lead from there.
The Force had to work their way through two yellow cards that left them 14 men down for 20 minutes of the second half.
In that period, they managed to keep the Tigers scoreless despite their one-man deficit and in fact they kept the visitors out for the entire final 40 minutes.
Fullback Jack McGregor had the first try of the second half, finishing off some superb work from Andrew Deegan, as the Force stretched their lead.
Issak Fines had the final say of the day, sealing the game with a try.
The Force take on the Asia Pacific Dragons on April 12 at HBF Park.
RESULT
Power Try: Dakuwaqa
Tries: Power, Deegan, Longbottom, McGregor, Fines
Cons: Prior 3, Alatimu 2
Pens: Alatimu
Yellow Card: Dakuwaqa, Bardoul
South China Tigers 22
Tries: Hughes, Penalty, Post
Cons: Hughes
Pens: Hughes
