The Western Force are hanging on to their dream of a maiden finals series after a fighting 19-14 win in last night's Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific Round 14 clash with the Queensland Reds at HBF Park.
The Force were playing for their season and are back in the hunt for a top six spot with two home games against Fijian Drua and the NSW Waratahs ahead of them.
The victory gave them their first win-double this season, leaving them six points out of the top six, moving up to ninth.
In a tough encounter, the first half ended with just one try apiece from flanker Carlo Tizzano in his 50th Force appearance and Reds backrower Joe Brial.
After the break, Force full-back Mac Grealy won the race to touch down a loose ball, and Tizzano grabbed a second from the more unusual spot on the wing.
Reds winger Tim Ryan grabbed a five-pointer in between the Force pair, with Force fly-half Max Burey and Reds No.9 Louis Werchon slotting two conversions apiece.
Both sides had early opportunities with the Force probing through the midfield in the opening salvos.
The Force were happy to go to the set piece and turned down a couple of early penalties, going to touch instead, and on queue, from a rolling maul on six minutes, Tizanno emerged from under a pile of bodies with the ball. Converted by Burey.
When they looked certain to score, Zac Lomax produced an unbelievable tap-and catch-intercept to keep them out.
The Reds stepped up the pressure and after a couple of penalties and being held up over the line they went wide quickly, where Ryan strolled over in the corner.
The Force hit back with a multi-phase game, showing nice hands to get the ball to space and waiting on the wing was Tizzano. The conversion hit the post.
With points at a premium, the Force needed to tie down the game and keep the visitors pinned behind their 22-metre line.
In the dying seconds, desperate line defence, a break by Peitsch, a penalty won by Kurtley Beale in his 185th appearance - taking him equal with Aaron Smith for third most caps in competition history - a line-out win, a kick to touch and the Force claimed the points.
Source: rugby.com.au
