The Western Force have sewn up third place on the Super Rugby Women's ladder following a thrilling 38-36 win over ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
The visitors scored six tries to ACT's five in a see-sawing rolling maul-a-thon at Viking Park headlined by try-scoring hookers.
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Force duo Hera-Barb Malcom-Heke and Sarah Cline each bagged a brace while Brumbies veteran Tania Naden scored a hat-trick as both sides flexed their set-piece muscle.
"We've got good skills in our team, we just didn't really show it today," Naden told Stan Sport post-game.
"Whenever it comes to the Force, I think we play a similar game. It's always a good battle with them and congrats to them to putting it to us on our home field today."
The visitors needed just three minutes to open their account via a rolling maul try to Malcome-Heke, who had her brace in the 13th after a Nicole Ledington linebreak paved way for another successful lineout drive.
A runaway try to Brooklyn Teki-Joyce sparked by Lucy Denine then stretched the Force's lead to 17-0 in as many minutes before the Brumbies finally broke their duck with a long-range Faitala Moleka penalty goal.
Moleka's 50-22 from the ensuing restart allowed the hosts to lay siege on the Force tryline for the first time and Naden made no mistake, burrowing over after 12 phases to post ACT's first try of the afternoon and close the gap to seven.
A yellow card to Force prop Alapeta Ngauamo turned the tide in ACT's favour with Naden bagging her second via rolling maul from the subsequent lineout drive and when Brumbies loosehead Sally Fuesaina crashed over from close range in the 38th minute, the Force found themselves behind 24-17 at oranges.
Canadian hooker Cline drew first blood in the second term via a 56th minute rolling maul try before a Kolora Lomani yellow card swung momentum back the Force's way, Ngaumo making no mistake from yet another maul platform.
Trailing 31-24, the Brumbies needed a spark and skipper Pesi Palu delivered with a bruising 20m charge and offload to send Naden over in the top right corner for her third try in the 62nd minute.
Cline hit back with 15 to play - once again the beneficiary of a Force rolling maul - to restore her side's nine-point buffer, though there was late drama to come as Ashlea Bishop plucked an intercept and ran 80m against the run of play.
There was to be no late joy for ACT as reserve back Kyah Little fumbled the restart, leaving the visitors to clear a final lineout and secure the two-point win.
The result sees ACT finish fourth and earn a semi final date with minor premiers NSW Waratahs while the Force prepare to face defending champions Fijian Drua.
Post-game, Denine told Stan Sport her side's win was testament to the Force's developing program.
"It's been really good, we're really connected and getting extra sessions in. We've just got to keep those connections and keep that energy up."
