Western Force fullback Jayden Hayward kicked the match-winning penalty to seal a 19-18 Super Rugby win over the Highlanders in Saturday night’s wooden spoon battle in Perth.
In a match dominated by the boot, the Highlanders hit the lead in the 77th minute when five-eighth Colin Slade nailed a 51-metre penalty.
But Hayward had the final laugh against his former side, making no mistake with his 79th-minute attempt from 24m out on a slight angle.
The Highlanders were made to pay for a series of costly errors at the death.
Hayward only received the penalty after Highlanders substitute Tino Nemani unleashed a dangerous and late tackle on the Force speedster.
And the Highlanders spurned a chance to win it in the final minute when Slade knocked the ball on as he attempted to offload just 15m from the tryline.
The Force entered the match just three points ahead of the last-placed Highlanders, but their third win of the season now lifts them six points clear of the struggling Dunedin-based franchise.
The Highlanders still have four games to play, but they will now need a major form turnaround to avoid finishing last.
The Force will receive an automatic four points next week for their bye, before rounding off their season with home games against the Waratahs and Brumbies.
Genuine highlights were few and far between with both sides turning to the boot in the opening half in their bid to gain crucial field position.
Neither side were able to use the tactic to any great effect, but the Force were rewarded for a series of crisp passes in the 17th minute when five-eighth Sias Ebersohn touched down in the corner.
From that point, it was a penalty kick-off as Hayward and Slade traded blows from the boot.
The Force looked a tad vulnerable when halfback Alby Mathewson was sin-binned in the 61st minute for deliberate offside.
But they managed to hold firm in defence when it mattered most, with a scrambling effort by Kyle Godwin and Ben McCalman denying Ma’a Nonu a try in the 62nd minute.
The Force suffered a blow before the match when winger Nick Cummins was forced out through injury.
Johnno
Guest
All good Bobbo7, like that nick name Bobbo7, very hip. Alinis Morrisette so 1990's, I remember buying her CD in the 90's.
Bobbo7
Guest
Sorry to steal your thunder. I should now be Bobbo7 but may be a glitch (possibly former imposter 'Johnno' - sounds like the name of an Alanis Morrisette album)
clipper
Guest
Of course it was not the original Johnno - if it had been it would've been the first post.
Roscoe
Guest
If Oz can't recruit Kiwis are the Poms/French/Japanese allowed to ?! Can the Kiwis recruit Samoan/Tongan/Fijian players (bring them over as teenagers)? Is there a restricton of trade? Tell Kiwis they can't make a living out of the gane they love because their local Super franchise doesn't rate them? Yoda played for the Rebels- was that poaching?
ScrumJunkie
Guest
I've always suspected you had multiple personalities.
Johnno
Guest
Another Johnno it seems. That was not the original Johnno above posting, pointing that out. I am the original Johnno.
Johnno
Guest
Highlanders have been hopeless this year. Listless in attack and whle i think they're trying they just can't get it together. Seems the trick of buying old dogs that were champions does not work. Next season they need to get rid of the old guard and go with youth (not that they'll have much choice anyway).
Worlds biggest
Guest
Geeeez I love the passion of the Force supporters, they are loyal as the day is long, turn up every week and get right behind there team.
Tacksharp
Guest
It's more than just Otago, Jerry. There's some talented players down there. I like regional picks.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Would be devastating for Aus rugby to drop a team now. Cities are just too far apart for one team to support multiple regions, would be a ruinous blow to rugby in whatever state lost the team.
Jerry
Guest
Activate the KPM signal!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
On the plus side Ben Smith is in form hahahaha!
Jerry
Guest
Sure, I don't see it as a black and white argument and don't begrudge the likes of Woodward or Fuglistaller or whoever, just as I don't begrudge the likes of Hosea Gear or Ben Franks who've merely moved teams within NZ. Truth be told, it's largely a storm in a teacup and not all that significant in the grand scheme of things. Though I do think the ARU's development player policy which actively encourages teams to recruit from overseas is pretty cynical.
mikeylives
Guest
I do see where you are coming from, but some very good players won't get picked by their representative side(s). Does that mean they should get another job or go to league?
Jerry
Guest
Yes, it's professional sport. But it's also to some extent representative sport. If you take the two extremes - Representative sport would mean all the players in a team hail from that area and are products of its sporting development pool - for the most part, this is what rugby was like in the amateur era. Professional sport would mean open slather with teams signing whatever players they want regardless of where they are from or learned the game - this is pretty much the model American sport has adopted. Rugby is somewhere in between these two extremes - for the most part teams develop their own players, but there is a fairly significant percentage who are recruited/drafted etc. Obviously the horse has well and truly bolted, but surely most people would prefer things to stay as close to the 'representative' side of the argument? The 'You should have picked them then' argument you made simply assumes that the professional side is the be all and end all.
mikeylives
Guest
There's a hole in the bucket dear liza dear liza
Jerry
Guest
Cause then the likes of Popoali'i, Poki or Treeby would just get snapped up by Aussie franchises.
Justin2
Guest
Jerry I don't understand what you are saying. It's professional sport. Can you expand on your point please...
p.Tah
Guest
Why don't the Highlanders pick these 'rejects' instead.
Jerry
Guest
Yes - the discussion isn't 'Who is best at identifying young talent in NZ' it's 'Representative sport vs Professional sport'.