RECAP: The Western Force have stayed in the hunt for a maiden finals appearance with a 19-14 win over the Queensland Reds.
Veteran Kurtley Beale was the hero, getting the turnover in the final seconds to hold off a charging Reds side.
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Flanker Carlo Tizzano did the damage, crossing for a double as they hit the front with 25 minutes to go.
The Reds had their chances but felt the loss of a host of Wallabies rested for the trip to Perth.
The victoy completes the clean sweep for the Force, who host the Fijian Drua and NSW Waratahs to finish the year.
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Force 19-14: Kurtley Beale all but wins the game for the Force after a mega moment in defence.
Beale stops a charging Reds attack and rips the ball cleaan for the turnover, with Dylan Pietsch's half-break leading to a Force penalty.
Force 19-14: Max Burey comes up with the clutch turnover after a break from Tim Ryan opens up the game.
He finds Treyvon Pritchard and the winger throws inside, with Burey getting in the way of the ball to stop the attack.
The Reds want a yellow card for a deliberate knock down but it's come off his chest and is a clear chance to take the intercept, leading to a scrum only.
Force 19-14: The Force keep working the field position perfectly as they hunt for a game winner.
Seru Uru turns up with a big play, turning the ball over to give them a chance to launch a late attack.
Force 19-14: Smart work from the Force is forcing the Reds to play from their own 22 if they want a winner.
Their kicking game has the Reds trapped inside and while they nearly find a way through Treyvon Pritchard, his chip kick trickles into touch.
Force 19-14: A great burst from Louis Werchon flips the momentum and wins the Reds a crucial penalty.
But again, their discipline hurts them as they give up a costly attacking penalty, before another error has them scrambling to clean up a kick close to their line.
Force 19-14: The Force have all the running in their legs as Vaiolini Ekuasi opens up the defence with a long-range effort.
Nathan Hastie again drops the ball in support, keeping the Reds in the fight.
Force 19-14: The Reds' lineout woes continue and it almost costs them a try after Nic Dolly's kick is nearly re-gathered.
They've lost six in total, with Nathan Hastie unable to clean up.
Force 19-14: Carlo Tizzano bags his second as their kicking game starts to take over.
Zac Lomax and George Bridge both come up big to leave the visitors scrambling, with the Force spreading wide for the flanker in the corner.
14-all: Sharp hands from the Reds puts Tim Ryan over in the corner untouched for the try.
The hosts are caught short for numbers as Jock Campbell runs a great line to create the space for Tim Ryan to cross.
Force 14-7: Harry Wilson comes up confident but the Reds skipper is denied.
Wilson dives for the line, but there's no clear evidence to show the ball over the line as the visitors worked under penalty advantage.
Force 14-7: The Force have gone bang to start the half as Mac Grealy gets a five-pointer on his 100th.
Hamish Stewart puts a booming cross-field kick up for Zac Lomax and while the winger can't re-gather, the ball goes backwards off Lomax and Grealy touches it down.
7-all: Dylan Pietsch creates something out of nothing as he strips in defence and races clear.
Jock Campbell provides the turnover after the winger is brought down, with Joe Brial and Seru Uru returning serve with their own break.
7-all: The Force launches a nice counterattack via the combo of Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Dylan Pietsch to get them the momentum.
It forces a hurried clearance kick, though the Reds work nicely to shut them down and cause the error.
7-all: The Reds are mounting the pressure but keep blowing opportunities.
There's a massive overlap and Carter Gordon puts it on the foot for Lachie Anderson, who drops it as he tries to re-gather.
7-all: Another beauty of a kick from Carter Gordon forces the five metre lineout for the Reds after Max Burey is bundled into touch.
The Reds finally get a lineout to work and the Force bring down their maul illegally, leading to the penalty, with the visitors held up over the line under another advantage.
Zac Lomax reads it perfectly and nabs the intercept to stop a golden opportunity.
7-all: Joe Brial levels the scores after superb work from Carter Gordon and Harry Wilson.
Gordon nails a 50-22 and Wilson backs it up with a bursting run through the defence, brought down on the line to allow his back-rower partner to dive over.
Force 7-0: A dangerous Force rolling maul suddenly sees the Reds firmly on the attack after Harry Wilson throws another freak offload to unleash Jock Campbell inside his own 22.
Campbell runs over halfway and is brought down, with the Force eventually rallying to force the error
Force 7-0: One of the hits of the year as Zac Lomax is folded by lock Hamish Muller on his starting debut.
It halts the Force's momentum, struggling to build pressure after another ball goes into touch but the Reds gift it back after a quick lineout to Tim Ryan goes wrong.
Force 7-0: A break out of nowhere for Jock Campbell as Carter Gordon and Hunter Paisami combine to put the fullback into a hole.
He races into the 22, but the ball back inside hits the deck.
Force 7-0: A textbook rolling maul delivers Carlo Tizzano's sixth try of the year and the opener of this contest.
The Force win the penalty after incorrect entry, kicking for the line just at the five metre line, allowing the forwards (and a late arrival Zac Lomax) to go to work and power their way over.
Max Burey launches the ball deep and this game is underway!
The visitors get an early scrum off a Dylan Pietsch mistake but Carlo Tizzano instantly has the Force on the attack after a ruck penalty allows them to launch inside the 22.
The Force cut a striking figure as they ran out in red against the Reds in support of the WA-based youth mental health charity zero2hero. Meanwhile, the Reds opt for their First Nations kit.
Tries: Tizzano 2, Grealy
Cons: Burey 2/3
Pens:
Tries: Brial, Ryan
Cons: Werchon 2/2
Pens:
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Western Force-Queensland Reds clash in Perth.
It's a big game for both teams, with the Force needing victory to keep their finals dream alive, especially after the Waratahs' bonus point win earlier in the day.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is an eager onlooker, with both teams heading into the game with the same 23 named during the week.
FORCE (1-15): Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vailoni Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Max Burey, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Zac Lomax, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Sef Fa'agase, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
REDS (1-15): George Blake, Josh Nasser, Massimo De Luttis, Hamish Muller, Seru Uru, Joe Brial, John Bryant, Harry Wilson (c), Louis Werchon, Carter Gordon, Lachie Anderson, Hunter Paisami, Isaac Henry, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Matt Faessler, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Zane Nonggorr, Charlie Brosnan, Vaiuta Latu, Kalani Thomas, Ben Volavola, Treyvon Pritchard
Referee: Jorday Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
The Force's clash with the Reds will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
