The Western Force snatched a thrilling, last minute 29-29 draw in their opening SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Women's match against the Brumbies at HBF Park on Saturday.
With seconds remaining Sammy Treherne went over in the corner and Nicole Ledington kicked the important, huge conversion to level the scores.
But drama continued after the siren when Brumbies fly-half Faitala Moleka had the chance to snatch the win but sent a 36-metre penalty wide of the posts.
Flanker Anneka Stephens, centre Cecilia Smith and flying winger Adi Vani Buleki also crossed for Force five-pointers.
Fly-half Grace Freeman kicked two conversions and a penalty.
It was only the third draw in Super W history.
Force coach Dylan Parsons, who unveiled 10 Club debutants including five Wallaroos, was "pretty disappointed" by the result.
"We knew it was going to be on us to control the game. W just didn't do that for periods of the game.
"Brumbies were really gritty and stayed in the fight.
"The Brumbies probably deserved to win.
"We got out of jail and two competition points.
"We highlighted discipline in the sheds,13 penalties eight at the breakdown.
"We didn't work hard enough, earlier enough, and it put us under pressure to make bad decisions."
In stifling conditions both sides were prepared to use width early and put in some big hits in defence but as the first-half wore on the game became a scrappy affair.
The Force dominated the breakdown but they were unable to turn it to great advantage with the Brumbies taking a 26-17 lead into the break.
The Brumbies shocked the home side with an early five-pointer, Merania Paraone finishing off a nice handling move, converted by Moleka.
The Force hit back immediately, Stephens crossing in the left-hand corner after a powerful, bustling run from winger Brooklyn Teki Joyce. Freeman converted.
A scintillating Force handling move was finished in the opposite corner by Smith, Freeman converted, to give the give the Force the lead.
Smith went from hero to villain when she was sent to the bin for a high tackle.
The Brumbies put the Force line under siege, numbers told, and Biola Dawa crossed in the corner.
Freeman stretched the Force lead to five points with a penalty on the half-hour but it was short-lived when the Brumbies hit back.
They went through the middle with flanker Chioma Enyi crashing over, converted, and then caught the Force napping when a quick tap by Paraone, that looked suspiciously ahead of the mark, ended with Enyi grabbing a double, converted.
After a six-try opening half, the second period was a sometimes scrappy, frenetic affair with both sides having handling problems and security issues at the breakdown as fatigue began to take its toll.
The Force discipline did not help their cause.
The Force closed the gap when Fijian Olympic Sevens speedster, Buleki, on her full Super W debut, raced over in the corner after collecting a lovely inside ball from Smith.
But with the Brumbies camped in the Force half for long periods, and after playing under a warning for some time, the Force were reduced to 13 for the second time on 64 minutes when Treherne was sent to the sin-bin.
The visitors stretched their lead to 22-29 when Moleka slotted a penalty but Treherne, back from the bin, went over in the corner and Leddingtom kicked the huge conversion to level the scores before Moleka missed the 36-metre after-the-siren penalty.
Western Force 29
Tries: Stephens (5'), Smith (10), Buleki (55'), Treherne (79')
Conversions: Freeman 2/3, Leddington 1/1
Penalties: Freeman 1/1
ACT Brumbies 29
Tries: Paraone (3'), Dawa (15), Enyi (31', 34')
Conversions: Moleka 3/4
Penalties: Moleka 1/1
Western Force Match Report, Powered by Altrad
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