The Western Force have jumped to fourth spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder after coming from behind to post a 29-20 bonus-point win over the Highlanders in Perth.
The Force trailed 20-7 in the 27th minute of Saturday night’s match at HBF Park before piling on the next 22 points to seal the five-tries-to-two win.
It catapulted the Force (4-4) from eighth to fourth heading into their bye week.
Carlo Tizzano (centre) scored his 11th try of the season as the Western Force beat the Highlanders. Credit: AAP
The Highlanders (2-5) are in ninth following their fourth straight defeat.
In-form Force flanker Carlo Tizzano was immense, scoring his 11th try of the season in the first half, and then pulling off a last-gasp turnover at the death to deny the Highlanders a try that would have robbed the home side of a valuable bonus point.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Force, who lost Dylan Pietsch in just the seventh minute after the Wallabies winger injured his quad.
“It feels good,” Force coach Simon Cron said of sitting fourth, albeit having played one more game than the rest of the competition.
“I’d like us to be second or first. There were a couple of games there I feel like we could have peeled away against the Reds.
“But it’s a great outcome today, and then it’s about what we do from here on end.”
