The Western Force have missed the chance to claim another Kiwi scalp, falling to the Highlanders in a 7-6 arm-wrestle in their Super Rugby Pacific clash in Dunedin.
Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava was the sole tryscorer, with both teams guilty of a swag of handling errors despite the match being played under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
After a rousing win over the defending champions Crusaders last round, the Force were looking for successive victories over New Zealand sides but came up short.
In a frustrating affair, their only points came through two penalty strikes by five-eighth Ben Donaldson.
Neither team managed to get on the scoreboard until Donaldson gave his team a 3-0 halftime lead, slotting a penalty in the 37th minute.
The home side went ahead six minutes into the second half when Fakatava found a hole in the Perth side's goal-line defence.
Force winger Chase Tiatia raced forward out of the defensive line, momentarily distracting his teammates, with Fakatava seizing the opportunity to dive across.
The converted try gave the Highlanders a 7-3 lead until Donaldon's second penalty in the 53rd minute closed the margin to one point.
Despite plenty of time left on the clock, the Force made lot of attacking raids but weren't able to find a winning try or even a penalty to go ahead.
Veteran Force halfback Nic White said it felt like a missed opportunity.
"It was just kind of last-pass stuff," he told Stan Sport.
"We created opportunities but we just weren't able to capitalise, just a few too many errors.
"We came over and competed well, so I'm proud of the fight in the guys ... it's bloody disappointing as I thought we played really well.
"You've got to feel like that's just another one this year that we've let slip."
The win meant the Highlanders, kept scoreless last round by Queensland, leap-frogged Moana Pasifika into eighth spot on the ladder.
Pens: Donaldson 2/3
Tries: Fakatava
Cons: Millar 1/1
Pens: Millar 0/1
HIGHLANDERS (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Henry Bell, Saula Ma'u, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Sean Withy, Billy Harmon (c), Folau Fakatava, Rhys Patchell, Connor Garden-Bachop, Jake Te Hiwi, Tanielu Tele'a, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
RESERVES: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Solomone Tukuafu, Will Tucker, Nikora Broughton, James Arscott, Cameron Millar, Martin Bogodo
FORCE (1-15): Marley Pearce, Tom Horton, Santiago Medrano, Sam Carter, Izack Rodda, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep, Nic White (c), Ben Donaldson, Chase Tiatia, Hamish Stewart, Sam Spink, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
RESERVES: Feleti Kaitu’u, Josh Bartlett, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Jeremy Williams, Michael Wells, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Henry O’Donnell
Referee: Dan Waenga
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams, Mike Winter
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 4:35 pm with kickoff expected at 5:05 pm.
