Western Force scored a critical 47-31 win against the Fijian Drua in Round 4 of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Women's competition at HBF Park on Sunday.
After a draw and a loss, and with just one round remaining after Sunday's game, the victory was crucial to the Force’s semi-final aspirations.
A win in the final round on Sunday against the Queensland Reds at Ballymore will see the Force lock in a home semi-final.
The Force faced a huge battle in the set piece against the best scrum in the competition and were not helped when they lost prop Allana Sikimeti and hooker Loretta Mailangi to injury in the first half and reserve hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke after the break.
But they battled the odds in a bruising clash and produced some excellent scrambling defence as fatigue set in.
They crossed for six tries and were awarded a penalty try while the Fijians scored for five of their own.
Coach Dylan Parsons said the win put them in a good position to control their own destiny.
He said the bruising encounter had brought out the true character of the side.
"For a team to be able to work together and problem solve against the most dominant scrum in the competition really puts in a good position to take confidence into next week," Parsons said.
"We always knew if we held onto the ball and build our phase count we were going to make them go through a lot or work and tire out.
"We always backed that we would be able to outwork them and build the energy to drop them away."
He will likely need to go deep into his squad strength for the next clash.
"We know that when the time comes, the energy up, the adrenalin kicks in, they will get through," he said.
The Drua opened their account from a scrum in front of the posts, driving through the Force pack No. 8 Karailini Naisewa was unstoppable. Converted by Luisa Tisolo.
The Force repelled more Drua pressure who used width and long kicks and the home side built into the game, applying pressure at the advantage line and showing attacking flair of their own.
They changed the momentum of the game and were quick to use width against the Drua's narrow defensive patterns.
After a multi-phase move they went for a line-out instead of an easy three points and after several phases second-rower Sera Naiqama burrowed over. Grace Freeman levelled the scores with the conversion.
The home some went ahead after a bullocking run by loose forward Tamika Jones, Freeman converted.
Pia Tapsell then showed that anything her fellow flanker could do, so could she, and smashed her way over to increase the Force lead. Freeman converted.
The Force had never scored 21 first-half points against the Drua but Fiji replied quickly with Naisewa grabbing her second, Tisolo converted.
When the ball went through Force hands there was no stopping the Force's own flying Fijian, winger Adi Vani Buleki from crossing in the corner.
And almost from the restart captain Trilleen Pomare chased her own kick to add a five-pointer, Freeman converted, to give her side a 33-14 lead at the break.
The lead was reduced by five when Anasimeci Korovata forced her way over but a beautiful inside pass from Pomare set Freeman on her way to the line. She converted her own try.
The Fijians bounced back when Alowesi Nakoci raced through to score, converted.
The Force were awarded a penalty try with 10 minutes remaining but Fiji kept the scoreboard ticking over when Ema Adivitalonga crossed for the final score of the game.
Western Force 47
Tries: Naiqama (12'), Jones (16') Tapsell (22'), Van Buleki (32'), Pomare (35), Freeman (56'), Pen try (71')
Conversions: Freeman 5/6
Penalties: Nil
Fijian Drua 31
Tries: Naisewa (4', 25'), Korovata (46 ') Nakoci (58'), Adivitalonga (73')
Conversions: Tisolo 2/3, Naikore 1/2
Penalties: Nil
Western Force Match Report, Powered by Altrad
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