The Western Force have clawed their way into the top four of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific standings after a 29-20 win over the Highlanders in round 8.
A red card to No 8 Sean Withy, for sliding his knee into the face of the Western Force's flying wing Harry Potter, torpedoed the Highlanders' chances of departing Perth with a victory.
The 29-20 loss to the Force now leaves the Highlanders with just two wins from seven games, and anchored in ninth place.
Withy now faces the prospect of being suspended, if found guilty by the judiciary.
While the act initially appeared to escape the attention of referee Jordan Way, it didn't go un-noticed by the off-field officials and Withy was yellow carded before being advised it had been upgraded to red and that he would take no further part in the game.
Potter, meanwhile, departed the paddock to have an HIA before returning to the action.
The Force also had their issues with ill-discipline.
Midfielder Sio Tomkinson was yellow carded for a dangerous throw on Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert in the 56th minute.
And, to think, it all began so well for the Highlanders who led 20-7 late in the first half, before the Force regathered themselves and used their maul to excellent effect to get hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa across the line, followed by fullback Mac Grealy scampering over out wide a couple of minutes after the halftime bell had jangled.
Then, slowly but surely, the Highlanders allowed their grip to loosen as the Force inched their way back into the contest.
The Highlanders' next match, against the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in Dunedin, may not feature Withy.
[Source: Stuff.co]
