Western Force escape with Golden Point draw against Hurricanes

The Western Force have escaped with a 17-17 Golden Point draw against the Hurricanes – and they had the post to thank for it.

In a pulsating finish to Saturday night’s match in Perth, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson nailed a 39m penalty in the 78th minute to level the scores and send it into a Super Point period.

Whichever team scored first in the 10-minutes of extra time would win the game, and Donaldson’s 51m penalty attempt in the third minute drifted out to the left.

Hurricane Jordi Viljoen, son of Joggie, on his connection with South Africa

With a Springbok Dad and Grandad, Jordi Viljoen now lives in New Zealand. He spoke to Finn Morton about his love of both countries and where his allegiance lies.

Hurricane Jordi Viljoen, son of Joggie, on his connection with South Africa

With a Springbok Dad and Grandad, Jordi Viljoen now lives in New Zealand. He spoke to Finn Morton about his love of both countries and where his allegiance lies.

Donaldson had another crack a few minutes later, but his drop goal attempt from 30m was charged down.

But the most dramatic moment was saved for after the final siren, when Hurricanes flyhalf Ruben Love unleashed a drop-goal attempt from 25m out.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Force

17 - 17

Full-time

Hurricanes

All Stats and Data

He struck it sweetly, but the ball struck the left post and bounced away, meaning both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Force would have gone up to fourth with a win, but the draw at least lifted them from sixth to fifth.

And in an extra consolation, losses for the Blues, Waratahs, Moana and Highlanders over the weekend marked good news for their quest for a maiden finals berth.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the 11th minute when winger Fehi Fineanganofo avoided Harry Potter’s ankle tap and busted through Donaldson’s tackle to touch down in the corner.

The visitors’ joy was short lived, with comeback kid Bayley Kuenzle marking his first match of the season with a try four minutes later.

Kuenzle, who was cut down by a serious knee injury last July, was mobbed by his Force teammates upon scoring the try.

Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano was causing all sorts of problems for the Hurricanes at the breakdown, and his sizzling run in the 36th minute gave the Force excellent field position.

The home side capitalised, tiring the Hurricanes out with phase after phase close to the line before Nic White fired out a double cut-out pass for fullback Mac Grealy to touch down in the corner.

The 14-5 half-time lead was a handy one, but the Force’s sloppy start to the second half cost them dearly.

Error after error gave the Hurricanes the field position they needed for fullback Callum Harkin to slice through two Force defenders and score in the 48th minute.

Harkin should have had a second try six minutes later, but his decision to pass – which failed to hit the target – instead of continuing his blazing run to the line meant the Force got out of jail.

Fineanganofo scored his second in the 63rd minute when he bounced off tacklers White and Grealy before racing to the line, giving the Hurricanes a 17-14 lead.

Force winger Harry Potter sent a scare through the camp when he cannoned into a big camera in his desperate bid to chase down his own kick.

Potter was able to recover from the heavy collision, and Donaldson kept his cool a short time later to level the scores and send it into Golden Point territory.

Both sides had a chance to win it, but the draw marked a fair result in what was an even contest.