Highlanders vs Force

Highlanders hit back with impressive tries to beat Force 43-35 for first win of Super Rugby Pacific season.

After seven lead changes the Highlanders pulled away to secure a 43-35 victory and their first win of the season. Here's how they rated.

[James Lentjes](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/james-lentjes/)– N/A – on at 80 [Folau Fakatava](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/folau-fakatava/)– 5 – on in 62nd. [Connor Garden-Bachop](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/connor-garden-bachop/)– didn’t get on [Ayden Johnstone](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ayden-johnstone/)– 5 – on in 45th. [Rhys Marshall](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rhys-marshall/)– 6 – on in 17th. [Andrew Makalio](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-makalio/)– N/A [Chase Tiatia](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/chase-tiatia/)on a kick return. [Jermaine Ainsley](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jermaine-ainsley/)– 7 [Cameron Millar](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/cameron-millar/)– N/A – on at 80 for his sixty second debut. Went for a bold intercept attempt with a try on offer for the Force and only got one hand to it, leading to a yellow card. Had a grubber charged on first phase from a lineout launch. Pushed the pass searching for an opportunity early as the Highlanders lacked a bit patience in the first half. Produced a beautiful offload on an early Highlanders’ attack. A second strike right on half-time gave them a 15-13 lead.

Kiwi greats baffled by costly call against Force as Highlanders claim first win of Super Rugby Pacific season.

"We've had a tough start. The back and forth nature of the match continued early in the second half with a try to Tom Horton for the Force, quickly answered by Gilbert who converted his own try to give the Highlanders a 22-18 lead. I agree with the yellow card but I don't agree with the fact that there was enough cover. But Force replacement George Poolman was sinbinned for a tipping tackle and the Highlanders took advantage with a try to Sean Withy which gave them the lead again. The Force took an early lead with two penalties to Bryce Hegarty before the Highlanders replied and took the lead with the first try of the match to winger Jonah Lowe. Hunt made up for his indiscretion with a try in the 40th minute which allowed the Highlanders to take a 15-13 lead to halftime. The lead bounced between the teams in the first half and at the start of the second but the Highlanders drew away with three unanswered tries through the middle of the second spell to lead 43-25. The Highlanders passed up a kickable penalty to go for the corner, won the lineout and kept the ball alive until Hunt skipped through a weak tackle to score. "I can't agree with that. The Highlanders had the hardest start to the season of any team, facing last year's finalists the Crusaders and Blues in the first two rounds and semi-finalists the Chiefs in the third. The Force still had a penalty to play with but they were unable to breach the Highlanders defence with their next wave of attack. [43-35 loss to the Highlanders in Invercargill on Sunday.](https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/live-scores/otago-highlanders-v-western-force-super-rugby-pacific-2023/669223843)

The Force, from Perth, led 25-22 with 22 minutes to play when George Poolman was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert. That was ...

That effort was called back, but Tom Horton crossed soon after on the back of a Force driving maul to give the visitors a lead. Force halfback Gareth Simpson was impressive on club debut after the Saracens-bound Englishman was drafted into the squad as injury cover. Highlanders No.10 Mitch Hunt scuppered a Force try with a deliberate knock-down and was sin-binned, but no penalty try was awarded.