Moana Pasifika have held on for a 22-14 win over the Western Force at HBF Park.
It’s their first win over the WA-based franchise and their second of the season, improving on their tally from last year.
Kyren Taumoefolau extended the lead shortly afterwards before the hosts tried to mount a comeback.
However, they struggled for discipline and execution, allowing the visitors to claim the win.
The Force were left to rue a series of missed opportunities early in the match.
No.8 Will Harris appeared set to score in the ninth minute after nice build-up play from flyhalf Ben Donaldson.
But instead of charging to the line, Harris dished off a somewhat wayward pass to Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, who dropped the ball while running at full pace.
Two minutes later, Donaldson unleashed a clearly-forward pass to snuff out another golden chance for the Force.
Moana hooker Sama Malolo opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he barged over for a try.
But the Force produced some party tricks to get a try of their own four minutes later.
Winger Chase Tiatia launched a chip kick as soon as he received the ball on the wing, and outside centre Bayley Kuenzle sprinted forward to collect the bouncing ball and race over.
The Force entered the match determined to fix up their ill-discipline, but the penalty count read 6-0 against them by the 25-minute mark.
Flanker Carlo Tizzano was yellow carded in the 32nd minute for a dangerous tackle that resulted in a clash of heads with Moana fullback Danny Toala.
The visitors made the most of the numerical advantage, with former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu barging over to give his team a 12-7 lead at half-time.
The deficit would have been even bigger had another former Wallaby – Christian Leali’ifano – not missed an easy penalty and conversion attempt.
Leali’ifano made up for those misses by playing a key role in Moana’s next try early in the second half.
The 36-year-old sneaked into place to grab a long line-out, and he dished off a quick pass for winger Kyren Taumoefolau to run 50m untouched to the line, making it 19-7.
The gap was closed back to five points in the 61st minute when Tizzano crossed from a rolling maul and Donaldson – after missing two easy penalties – nailed the conversion.
But the Force’s victory hopes were sunk in the 72nd minute when substitute flyhalf William Havili nailed a 53m penalty, giving the visitors an eight-point buffer.
The Western Force suffered a blow before kick-off when star Wallabies recruit Nic White was ruled out with knee swelling.
