The Western Force battled bravely but were denied a much-needed second win of the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season, going down 24-14 to the Chiefs in Saturday's Round 7 clash at HBF Park.
The Chiefs came into the game hot favourites against the Force, back at HBF Park for the first time since the first round, and in a tight first-half the home side went into the break just seven points behind with a Max Burey try converted by Ben Donaldson.
The Chiefs pair came from flanker Luke Jacobson and fly-half Josh Jacomb, both converted by Damian McKenzie.
After the break Force captain Jeremy Williams brought his side level but poor discipline helped the Chiefs camp on the home side's line.
Reserve front-rower Samisoni Taukei'aho put his side back in the lead before McKenzie put the game out of reach with a penalty in the penultimate minute.
The Force put early pressure on the visitors, moving the ball from side-to-side in multiple phases, with good construction behind the ruck and showing intent, running from inside their own 22-metres.
They turned the big Chiefs pack with some accurate kicking but were unable to take advantage and turned down three points from a penalty.
The Chiefs have been able to score early points this season but the Force maintained composure and kept them scoreless until midway through the first period when they crossed on their first visit to the Force 22 metres.
Playing under penalty advantage they went 26 phases but solid defence kept them out until an ensuing scrum and another seven phases saw Chiefs captain Jacobson break the line and set the cow bells ringing. McKenzie converted.
It was a trigger for the Chiefs to break the line with a couple of long range break-outs, but the cowbells were silenced on 30 minutes, George Bridge winning a challenge from a Donaldson kick to feed fullback Burey who crossed. Donaldson converted.
Just before the break the visitors benefitted from a dodgy line-out call and Jacomb drifted through the line to score. McKenzie converted to give his side a 14-7 half-time lead.
The Force turned down two kickable penalties after the break, instead, going to the line-out.
It paid dividends on 48 minutes when Williams somehow got the ball down among a pile of bodies after pressure from the forwards. Donaldson converted to level the scores.
Consecutive penalties put the Force on their heels close to the line but they defended solidly in close quarters until Taukei'aho barreled over. McKenzie added the extras.
Williams was sidelined with a head injury assessment after an hour and before he returned winger Darby Lancaster came close, just beaten to the ball as he chased his own kick over the line.
Chiefs reserve prop Ollie Norris was then yellow-carded but the Force could not take advantage of consecutive scrums.
The Force were still in the game when McKenzie missed a relatively easy penalty with less than 10 minutes remaining.
From another penalty they went for the line-out that the Force turned over the ball, but when they were awarded yet another three-pointer McKenzie made no mistake with just 60 seconds left on the clock to deny the Force a bonus point.
Western Force
Tries: Burey (30'), Williams (48')
Conversions: Donaldson 2/2
Penalties: Nil
Chiefs
Tries: Jacobson (21'), Jacomb (37), Taukei'aho (57')
Conversions: McKenzie 3/3
Penalties: McKenzie 1/1
Crowd: 5,394 @HBF Park
