Albert Alcock scored after the siren to complete an incredible comeback from the Western Force who triumphed 29-28 over the Queensland Reds in their Swyftx Super Rugby AUS opener on Saturday.
The Force trailed by 16 points early in the second half, before storming home with the final three tries of the game at Ballymore Stadium to claim an improbable win.
After the hooter had blown, reserve hooker Alcock made the crucial play from a rolling maul from his own 5m lineout, with new signing Harry McLaughlin-Phillips coolly converting for the decisive additional two points.
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The Force had been pressing after half-back Nathan Hastie narrowed the margin to six points, with Tama Anderson coming close with two minutes to play down the left, only for Jock Campbell to force him out.
Earlier, Wanneroo product Hastie scored a brace, including capping a phenomenal end-to-end team move, diving on a loose ball to score after charging down an attempted Reds clearance.
Fly-half McLaughlin-Phillips, who was signed by the Force from the Reds in the off-season, lined up in the blue for the first time against his former side and was influential, producing some quick thinking for a try on half-time to keep the visitors in the game at 21-12.
The Force no.10 didn’t quite have his goal-kicking boots on, but came up with the crucial conversion at the death to get the Force off to a winning start.
The result gives the Force an ideal start to Super Rugby AUS ahead of game two in Perth at North Coast Sharks RUFC in Butler against the ACT Brumbies on Sunday 20 September from 1:30pm WST with entry free.
Queensland scored first with back-rower Tom Robinson crashing over after Mosiah Christian’s quick tap, before the home side lost Josh Flook to injury.
The Force built pressure through pase play, before a set piece led to Hastie dotting after a clever tip pass from Kane Koteka allowed Max Sawers to drive.
Koteka held up John Bryant over the line as the Reds pressed, before Josh Takai’s try after prop George Blake went through the middle of the ruck.
The Reds suddenly led 21-5 when Tim Ryan reacted first to a Force over-thrown lineout, bursting clear to an open backfield to score.
McLaughlin-Phillips’ intelligent quick tap and step under the upright kept the Force within reach at the break.
Queensland moved 28-12 ahead when loose play between Mac Grealy and Wallace Charlie allowed Ryan to swoop, releasing Campbell on the inside for a running try.
Wests Scarborough back-rower Seta Baker made a significant impression in his first appearance for the Force, rewarded for his good work by powering over in the 50th minute for 28-17.
The Force came close after Alcock’s 30m run, with Kurtley Beale’s cut-out pass for Anderson deemed forward, before the Reds almost sealed it, with Beale forcing a knock-on from Cooper Stewart after Campbell’s pass inside with the tryline beckoning.
With quarter of an hour to go, the Force scored in a move that started off their own goal-line, with Grealy linking up with Anderson, before Beale chased McLaughlin-Phillips’ chip. Beale and Hastie’s pressure allowed the scrum-half to score with a desperate dive on a loose ball.
With the Reds on the back foot, the Force pressed and earned a 5m lineout after the siren. Alcock delivered for Will Harris, latched on to the maul as the Force powered over. McLaughlin-Phillips did the rest to seal the deal.
The Force next faces the Brumbies on Sunday 20 September at North Coast Sharks. Entry is free or fans can watch live on Stan Sport and rugby.com.au’s Youtube channel.
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Queensland Reds 28
Tries: Robinson (7’), Takai (32’), Ryan (35’), Campbell (44’)
Conversions: Lynagh 4/4
Penalties: Nil
Western Force 29
Tries: Hastie 2x (26’, 64’), McLaughlin-Phillips (40’), Baker (50’), Alcock (80’)
Conversions: McLaughlin-Phillips 2/5
Penalties: Nil
@ Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
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