Force 22
Chiefs 21
KEY POINTS:
A Matt Giteau penalty in injury time broke the Chiefs' hearts and kept the Force's slim Super 14 rugby playoff hopes alive at Perth's Subiaco Oval last night.
Giteau, returning from a period on the sidelines with concussion, showed a cool head to slot the penalty for a Chiefs offside on the 22m line to seal a thrilling 22-21 victory.
It ended the Chiefs' five-match winning streak as they embark on a South African tour.
The Chiefs blew several chances late in the match before midfielder Callum Bruce looked to have won it with a dropped goal with five minutes left.
A few minutes earlier, Bruce was somehow stripped of the ball by Force flanker David Pocock when diving for a try, then Sitiveni Sivivatu dropped the ball with the line open.
In a thrilling final few minutes the Force attacked, referee Marius Jonker signalled a Chiefs offside at a ruck and Force fullback Cameron Shepherd scored a try only to be called back for a knock-on.
The Force outscored the visitors three tries to two.
The Chiefs began the weekend in fourth spot and looking to continue their semifinal charge as they eyed six consecutive wins for the first time in their history.
But the ninth-placed Force were a different outfit after a listless performance in defeat to the lowly Reds a fortnight ago.
They looked sharper with a week's rest with the bye, while coach John Mitchell injected some fresh faces including 17-year-old midfielder James O'Connor.
The hosts rocked the Chiefs with the opening try from a chargedown in the fourth minute after two tryless efforts against the Reds and Waratahs.
No 8 Matt Hodgson charged Jamie Nutbrown's attempted clearance 5m out and regathered to score a try which Giteau converted from the left-hand touch.
The Chiefs were dangerous as always from broken play but turned over plenty of ball in the contact area early on as they struggled for momentum.
A Stephen Donald penalty got the Chiefs on the board but the Force were soon 14-3 up when winger Drew Mitchell beat three tacklers including fullback Mils Muliaina to score out wide.
The competition's leading pointscorer Donald missed two kickable penalties then centre Richard Kahui summed up a frustrating half when he was bundled into touch by Cameron Shepherd on the hooter.
An injured Kahui didn't return after the break.
The Chiefs stormed into the second half with some Sivivatu brilliance setting up their first try three minutes after the break.
Sivivatu burst through a gap on the 22m and put winger Lelia Masaga away with a long pass.
It was then Giteau's turn to miss two penalties as both goalkickers struggled.
Halfback James Stannard looked to have sealed it for the Force when he darted down the blindside to score and make it 19-8 with 15 minutes remaining.
But the Chiefs weren't done with and Donald scored immediately under the posts from a neat pop pass from an impressive Sione Lauaki.
A Donald penalty narrowed the gap to 19-18 with 10 minutes left before it seemed Bruce had won it with his dropped goal.
- NZPA
