RECAP: The Western Force have fallen to the Highlanders 39-31 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Force were looking to build off their maiden victory and fought hard for a half time led in Dunedin.
But a second half double to Caleb Tangitau and Reesjan Pasitoa's late penalty proved the difference as the 'Landers scorched home to their second win of the season.
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Jonah Lowe also bagged a brace in a star turn for the hosts.
Vaolini Ekuasi, Jeremy Williams, Hamish Stewart, Carlo Tizzano and George Bridge all crossed for the Force to ensure the Highlanders didn't earn a winning bonus point.
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Salt in the wound to finish as the Force fail in their bid for a losing bonus point. Great second half performance from the Highlanders - spearheaded by their electric back three.
Force led at half time and with 12 minutes to play - they'll rue this one for a while as a chance to win back-to-back in NZ for the first time since 2008 slips through the fingers.
39-31 Highlanders: Reesjan Pasitoa might just have snuffed out the Force's chances there.
The visitors pushed back hard but a massive turnover from Soane Vikena gave Pasitoa the chance to slot a long-range penalty and the former Force man makes no mistake from the tee.
It's an eight-point game and that feels a stretch too far this late.
36-31 Highlanders: It's Globetrotter stuff here at Forsyth Barr as the Highlanders hit back!
Just pure brilliance from the hosts' back three as Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens combine down the left before Tangitau scores down the right edge on the recycle.
Reesjan Pasitoa converts for a five-point buffer - it's a grandstand finish ahead!
31-29 Force: What a fightback from the Force!
The West Australians are back in front after a storming kick off receipt gives Kurtley Beale ball in space to link up with George Bridge, who fights his way through three defenders and over!
29-26 Highlanders: Who else but Carlo? The Force have another try through Tizzano from an attacking maul and they're back in the contest.
Tough conversion attempt sails wide from Burey so the buffer is three points.
Big finish coming up.
29-21 Highlanders: Carlo Tizzano just kept this contest alive.
The Force fetcher has made two clutch steals in two minutes - one in his own 22 and then another in the hosts' half - and has given his side an attacking lineout five metres from the tryline.
29-21 Highlanders: Caleb Tangitau crosses after a bullet pass from Jona Nareki and the floodgates are threatening to bust open in Dunedin!
Great work in the lead-up from Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to force possession deep in the Force 22 and Nareki's pass does the damage for Tangitau to step inside and score untouched.
24-21 Highlanders: The hosts are back in front! Jonah Lowe gets his brace but it's all Timoci Tavatavanawai in the lead-up.
The 'Landers co-captain turned the tide with a tackle shredding run up the guts and the back-pedalling Force couldn't keep up.
Solid finishing from the hosts to get Lowe over - they stretched the Force left, then right and Lowe latches onto a nice grubber behind the line to score untouched under the sticks.
21-17 Western Force: There's a clear strategy from the Force here - rain bombs on the 'Landers back three all day.
Nathan Hastie keeps putting it on a dime and the hosts are struggling to hold on.
21-17 Western Force: It's been a solid start after oranges for Simon Cron's side with Mac Grealy defusing two early bombs and getting the Force downfield.
Nathan Hastie's box kicks are really hurting the Highlanders and the Force found themselves within five metres after the hosts gave away another penalty.
But the Highlanders do well to stop that lineout, force a maul turnover and earn a penalty.
An incredible finish to the first half in Dunedin with the Force scoring two late tries to take the lead!
Stay tuned for a massive second 40 to come.
21-17 Western Force: Blink and you'll miss him - Ben Donaldson strikes again and Hamish Stewart has the Force's third try!
The fleet-footed flyhalf has put his side ahead on the stroke of halftime with a sizzling break down the blindside from a midfield ruck.
Donaldson identified space, beat his man and fed Stewart back inside to score beside the posts. It's the Force in front at oranges - what a game this has turned into!
17-14 Highlanders: Jeremy Williams has left the Highlanders stunned with the sneakiest of tries!
Caught half a metre short from a pick-and-drive, Williams went to ground and placed the ball - forwards - over the try-line!
Referee Ben O'Keefe pays the try and the hosts are speechless but that's excellent knowledge of the laws. Donaldson converts and the margin draws back to just three points.
17-7 Highlanders: Hamish Stewart - take a bow.
The Wallaby centre just iced a mammoth 50-22 from a sharp set-piece scrum to get his side 60m upfield.
The Force earn a penalty from the ensuing lineout and are now camped down in the 'Landers 22 - can they strike before half time?
17-7 Highlanders: Soft shoulders from the Force there - Jonah Lowe dances through two missed tackles and scores in the top right corner.
That one came from nowhere. Caleb Tangitau popped a little ball to Lowe with half a blade of grass to spare down the right edge and somehow he shakes off Ekuasi and Grealy.
Millar rubs salt in the wound with a wide conversion and the buffer is 10.
10-7 Highlanders: The ding-dong battle continues at ruck time - this time it's Darcy Swain giving away a penalty - but the hosts can't cash in.
Cam Millar misses a regulation penalty goal attempt from 38m out on a slight angle and play resumes with a Force 22m drop out.
10-7 Highlanders: The Force have their first try of the afternoon through Vaolini Ekuasi!
Their pressure pays off after a string of Highlanders penalties and it's their lineout weapon again - this time a short play around the front that creates space for Vaolini to storm over second phase.
Ben Donaldson adds the extras from wide left and it's a three-point game!
10-0 Highlanders: The Force are left to rue a poor ruck clean hot on the attack as Jack Taylor bags a steal.
The Force won a penalty from the restart, secured their lineout and started building phases in their attacking 22 before Taylor latched on.
'Landers not out of trouble yet though - the exit is poor and another lost lineout sees the Force with possession 30m out.
10-0 Highlanders: The hosts extend their lead through a Cam Millar penalty goal but they can't crack this Force lineout.
Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain are wreaking havoc on the defensive side - the 'Landers have lost their past four lineouts and have no answer.
7-0 Highlanders: The hosts score first in Dunedin after a pair of kick receipt errors from the Force!
Simon Cron's side fail to defuse consecutive bombs after a sharp Tangitau break and the 'Landers cash in with short passing down the left edge.
Folau Fakatava throws the last pass back inside for Veveni Lasaqa to score - and Cam Millar makes no mistake from the tee.
Timoci Tavatavanawai is already making his presence felt.
The hulking centre secured his first breakdown steal of the afternoon but the 'Landers can't capitalise, giving away a penalty of their own shortly after under pressure from Carlo Tizzano.
Sharp work in defence saves the Force's blushes early.
The Highlanders found themselves downfield after a ruck penalty but were foiled by a line out steal.
Caleb Tangitau then threatened to bust through on the counter before the Force defenders held him up, forcing a maul turnover.
A massive test for the Force against the Highlanders is underway here in Dunedin.
Force kick off and are running left to right in their away gold strip, the hosts in traditional navy.
WESTERN FORCE 31
Tries: Ekuasi, Williams, Stewart, Tizzano, Bridge
Cons: Donaldson 3
HIGHLANDERS 39
Tries: Lowe 2, Tangitau 2, Lasaqa
Cons: Millar 3, Pasitoa
Pens: Millar, Pasitoa
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot (co-c), Jack Taylor, Angus Ta'avao, Oliver Haig, Mitch Dunshea, Te Kamaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa, Nikora Broughton, Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Replacements: Soane Vikena, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Sosefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Sean Withy, Adam Lennox, Reesjan Pasitoa, Tanielu Tele'a
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crepsigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekausi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, George Bridge, Hamish Stewart, Divad Palu, Darby Lancaster, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Sef Fa'agase, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Henry Robertson, Max Burey, Kurtley Beale
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
The Highlanders' clash with the Force will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:00 pm with kickoff expected at 2:35 pm.
