The Western Force went down for their second consecutive defeat in Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific, overpowered 42-32 by the Blues at HIF Health Insurance Oval, Arena Joondalup on Saturday.
Played at a raucous carnival-like atmosphere at Joondalup, the Force had taken a 17-14 half-time lead after Carlo Tizzano’s try, only the third time in Super Rugby they have led the Blues at the break, but a second-half, 20-minute fade out cost them dearly.
The WA side has now won just once in 17 meetings against the Blues and next face a tough three-game New Zealand road trip ahead against Moana Pasifika, the Highlanders and Hurricanes.
They crossed four times through prop Harry Johnson-Holmes, openside flanker Carlo Tizzano, winger Bayley Kuenzle and fly-half Ben Donaldson.
With a strong southern breeze blowing down the ground, Donaldson converted three and added two penalties.
The Blues scored six tries with No.10 Stephen Perofeta perfect from the tee.
Force coach Simon Cron shuffled his tight five after Nick Champion de Crespigny suffered a knee injury against the Brumbies. Darcy Swain went into the second row with captain Jeremy Williams moving to blindside flanker.
The Force needed to improve their basic skills, ball retention and discipline but an error from the opening kick-off immediately put them on the backfoot.
And they were punished after just six minutes with prop Joshua Fusitu'a barreling through for just his second Super try. Converted by Perofeta.
Patient phase play finally got the Force into Blues territory and they were awarded consecutive penalties close to their line.
The first saw scrum-half Nathan Hastie take a quick tap with the ball ripped away as he crossed, but after a planned tap move prop Johnson-Holmes went over for his first Force try. Donaldson added the extras.
The Blues piggy-backed up the field with two penalties and after two more referee Damon Murphy ran out of patience and handed a yellow card to hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
The numbers told immediately, Perofeta strolled over and converted.
With the Force reduced to 14 they needed to control the tempo and keep the game tight.
They used a couple of kicks to pin the Blues in their own quarter and Donaldson closed the gap to four with a penalty before the Force were back to a full side.
The Force penalty count continued to rise and the Blues were quick to pick off some of the Force one-off carries.
But as half-time closed in winger David Palu produced a massive 50-22 kick to give the Force one last chance.
And they took it, Tizzano grabbing his second try in two games after a series of forward drives from the line-out. Donaldson converted.
Leading at the break should have been a confidence boost for the Force who were against a strong wind in the second half.
But the Blues got off to a perfect re-start, full-back Zarn Sullivan strolling home in his side's first touch before Donaldson trimmed the lead with his second penalty.
A few minutes later the Blues forwards went to work and Torian Barnes forced his way over.
Winger Cole Forbes then walked over out wide for another Blues five-pointer when the Force were short of numbers.
The Force kept themselves in the game, producing a similar move, creating numbers wide for Bayley Kuenzle to cross. Donaldson added the extras.
That was quickly rubbed out when second-rower Josh Beehre crossed.
Then, with the clock ticking away and with the Blues appealing for a knock-on Donaldson played the whistle and went over. His conversion hit the post.
Western Force
Tries: Johnson-Holmes (11'), Tizzano (41'), Kuenzle (66), Donaldson (80)
Conversions: Donaldson 3/4
Penalties: Donaldson 2/2
Blues
Tries: Fusitu'a (6'), Perofeta (20'), Sullivan (41'), Barnes (52'), Forbes (59'), Beehre (69')
Conversions: Perofeta 5/5
Penalties: Nil
Crowd: 5131 @ Arena Joondalup, HIF Health Insurance Oval
