The ACT Brumbies have held on for a 22-19 win over the Western Force at GIO Stadium
Nic White was impressive on his Canberra return as he set up the opening try for the visitors.
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It allowed the Force to take an early lead before the Brumbies launched their comeback.
The hosts scored 22 consecutive points to re-take the lead thanks to tries to Ryan Lonergan, Rob Valetini and Billy Pollard.
Harry Potter kept the Force in the game late but the Brumbies did enough to secure the win.
After conceding 29 straight points last weekend to lose 48-34 to Melbourne, the Perth-based side led 14-0 in Canberra, but were then brushed aside.
The win steadied the Brumbies' campaign at 2-1, moving forward well from a 46-12 thrashing at the hands of the Chiefs.
Local fans expected a bounce-back performance after the Brumbies' worst defensive performance in seven years last weekend against the Chiefs, but they looked uninspired and clunky throughout the first half.
That allowed the Force to skip 14-0 clear behind 20 minutes of simple rugby, with centre Hamish Stewart and flanker Michael Wells finding the line.
The typically clinical Brumbies looked a shell of their usual selves in a sloppy opening quarter-hour, completing just one of their first four lineouts while getting busted up in contact.
Stewart crossed to cap a move Donaldson started with power running, before Wells bruised his way over from close range.
A rare moment of ACT attacking flair from centre Tamati Tua got his side on the board on the half-hour, with halfback Ryan Lonergan the beneficiary of a nice link-up.
A Noah Lolesio penalty got them back within a converted try at 14-8.
The Force had looked to skip 21-8 clear on the stroke of halftime, but had winger Potter's try called back for an obstruction on ACT lock Darcy Swain, in a massive let-off for the home side.
Potter copped a yellow card less than a minute into the second half for taking out Swain contesting a high ball, and the Brumbies cashed in, grabbing the lead through No.8 Rob Valetini.
Bench hooker Billy Pollard then drove his way over the line on 55 minutes to extend the advantage.
Discipline was a huge problem for the Force, conceding a whopping 15 penalties to the Brumbies' four.
Tries: R. Lonergan, Valetini, Pollard
Cons: Lolesio 2/3
Pens: Lolesio 1/1
Tries: Stewart, Wells, Potter
Cons: Donaldson 2/3
Pens: Donaldson 0/1
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Lachlan Lonergan, Sosefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Darcy Swain, Tom Hooper, Luke Reimer, Rob Valetini, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Billy Pollard, Blake Schoupp, Rhys Van Nek, Lachlan Shaw, Jahrome Brown, Klayton Thorn, Declan Meredith, Ollie Sapsford
FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Tom Franklin, Jeremy Williams (c), Michael Wells, Carlo Tizzano, Will Harris, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter, Max Burey
RESERVES: Feleti Kaitu’u, Charlie Hancock, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Tim Anstee, Lopeti Faifua, Ollie Callan, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, George Poolman
Referee: Dan Waenga
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper, Jordan Kaminski
