Jubilation ... Western Force players celebrate Alfi Mafi's try on their way to victory. Source: DAVE HUNT / AAP
A gutsy Western Force produced their best win in 12 months with a huge Super Rugby upset over the Queensland Reds on Saturday night in Brisbane.
While all eyes were on Wallabies halfback Will Genia making his injury comeback, it was another No.9, former All Black Alby Mathewson, who starred in a 19-12 triumph at Suncorp Stadium.
| 0 Tries 1 | |
|---|---|
| Alfi Mafi 32' | |
| 0 Conversions1 | |
| Sias Ebersohn 33' | |
| 4 Penalties4 | |
| Quade Cooper 17' | Sias Ebersohn 3' |
| Quade Cooper 21' | Sias Ebersohn 23' |
| Quade Cooper 30' | Sias Ebersohn 57' |
| Quade Cooper 37' | Sias Ebersohn 70' |
Mathewson set up the only try and almost handed another on a plate as the Force celebrated their first win in Brisbane in six attempts.
| Australia Conference | W | L | D | PD | BP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brumbies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 2 | 18 |
| 2 | Reds | 3 | 2 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 13 |
| 3 | Western Force | 1 | 3 | 0 | -22 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Melbourne Rebels | 1 | 3 | 0 | -25 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Waratahs | 1 | 3 | 0 | -33 | 1 | 9 |
| New Zealand Conference | W | L | D | PD | BP | Pts | |
| 1 | Chiefs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 5 | 17 |
| 2 | Blues | 2 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | Crusaders | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| 4 | Hurricanes | 2 | 2 | 0 | -15 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Highlanders | 0 | 3 | 0 | -35 | 1 | 5 |
| South Africa Conference | W | L | D | PD | BP | Pts | |
| 1 | Bulls | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | Sharks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Cheetahs | 2 | 2 | 0 | -31 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Stormers | 1 | 2 | 0 | -12 | 1 | 9 |
| 5 | Southern Kings | 1 | 2 | 0 | -8 | 0 | 8 |
Not since the Perth franchise smashed the Reds 45-19 almost a year ago to the day, has the Force delivered a better 80-minute team performance.
They were $7.50 underdogs but, in the end, deserved to win by more as they were hungrier in defence and more accurate in attack than Queensland, who were shut out in the second half.
Queensland-raised forwards Hugh McMeniman, Angus Cotterell and Richard Brown all played key roles against a tiring Reds pack.
"We're bitterly disappointed with the performance,'' said Genia.
"Too many errors, too many times running into touch and too many poor passes ... it wasn't acceptable.''
Genia's halves partner Quade Cooper was guilty of many of the wayward passes and was fortunate not to have given up a chargedown try to Chris Alcock in the first half.
It was the blistering pace of Chris Feauai-Sautia who saved the day.
Despite that, the Force still took a surprise 13-12 halftime lead but would have been further ahead if not for the goal-kicking of Cooper, who slotted four penalties, and turnovers forced by flanker Liam Gill.
Queensland too often kicked away possession when they had overlaps in their own half and let the visitors make the play.
The visitors took a 13-9 lead in the 32nd minute when Mathewson broke from the fringes of the lineout, brushing off Saia Faingaa on the way, before putting winger Alfi Mafi over in the left corner.
Genia looked sharp for Queensland in his 40-minute comeback from a knee reconstruction and almost ran down Mafi to stop the try.
While the Reds were held try-less for only the third time at Suncorp Stadium, Mathewson almost set up a second try to Junior Rasolea but his long-range break and chip was snuffed by a tiny fumble before the reserve back dived over.
Re-live all the action from the Force's triumph at our Super Rugby Match Centre, with video highlights and all the stats.
Queensland were forced into a late change when Anthony Faingaa succumbed to a back injury and Mike Harris was the surprise starter at outside centre.
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