'Bridgey and I will be chatting': Coach looks sick after all-time butchered try but Force hold on for vital win

The Western Force breathed some life into their Super Rugby Pacific season by outclassing Moana Pasifika 35-19 in Pukekohe on Friday night.

The five tries to three victory was the Force's first win since April last year and was just their seventh ever victory in New Zealand.

The Perth club had won just one of their last 21 games across the Tasman and it was their first win on New Zealand soil since 2022.

Watch the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with every match streaming live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport

Force winger Darby Lancaster set the tone with the first try of the match on his club debut.

"It was awesome. We're really stoked to get over here in New Zealand and win a game. It's the first of the season, and we're hoping to really put some more on the board," Lancaster said.

The Force lost their first two games of the season at home against the ACT Brumbies and Blues.

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The game got off to a bizarre start when Force No.10 Ben Donaldson was pulled for a warmups HIA just minutes before kickoff.

Max Burey started instead but Donaldson was soon cleared and replaced Burey after two minutes.

"I didn't really know what was going on," Force captain Jeremy Williams said.

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"Really pleased with the way we started, we played territory and really fixed some of the things that we wanted to fix from last week.

"A little bit disappointed with how we finished there. We obviously let them score a couple of tries and put a bit of pressure on us. But overall really pleased and getting a win away is always awesome.

"I thought our backs steered us round really well and it was important that our middles really aimed up there and defended really well. Really proud of the effort."

Earlier, George Bridge was guilty of one of rugby's cardinal sins when failing to ground the ball in squandering a certain try.

The former All Blacks winger of 19 Tests, who has enough experience of scoring tries, was sauntering over the line for the Force.

But Bridge was unaware that Denzel Samoa was lurking, hellbent on prizing the ball free of the ex-Crusader's grasp because it was his knock-on that gave the visitors their window to attack.

Moana's right winger had indeed done enough to dislodge possession, with a late TMO check revealing Bridge's blunder despite Donaldson's conversion.

Bridge, as a seasoned professional back in Super Rugby after a stint in France, was embarrassed by the error, although it was incidental once giant lock Darcy Swain scored from the Force's next attack.

The 30-year-old said it was a "coach killer."

"Not ideal, but obviously made up for it afterwards. And we got the win, so happy about that," he said.

Bridge got his redemptive moment when diving low to give the visitors a deserved 21-7 lead at the break.

Coach Simon Cron might have decided against mentioning his howler with such a commanding position they maintained to close out their success.

"Bridgey and I will be chatting. It's probably the wrong time right now. I'll give him half an hour," Cron said.

Counterpart Tana Umaga wouldn't have enjoyed what his Moana side produced for long spells. They fell off tackles and were conceding cheap penalties to give the Force more territorial advantage.

Moana's record after three rounds dropped to 1-2 and concerns should be rising about their prospects of improving on last season's great strides. Their game was lifeless in the second half.

Without the totemic Ardie Savea, loose forwards such as Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Semisi Paea and Miracle Faiilagi did little to account for his influence in a home match Moana really should win if they want to make the playoffs for the first time.

The new attacking focal point of five-eighth Patrick Pellegrini and Ngani Laumape in the midfield struggled to click and gain any control. Handling was slack and Moana couldn't string plays together to escape their own half.

Referee Paul Williams brutally also told both packs their scrummaging "was not up to Super Rugby standards" early in the second half.

The contest descended into an ugly grind, a tough spectacle for anyone dotted around Navigation Homes Stadium hoping for a festival of attacking rugby.

There was a sense of relief when busy Wallabies loose forward Carlo Tizzano extended the Force's lead after the hour.

The classy Donaldson was cleaner with his kicking game, Hamish Stewart landed a thumping 50/22, and the Force drove home their advantage with reserve hooker Leonel Oviedo rumbling over.

The hosts finished with some attacking flourish and late tries for Melani Matavao and Allan Craig, denying the Force a bonus point, but it was far too late.

Moana's start was poor, summed up by the setting sun blinding lock Tom Savage when he fumbled a lineout. They were sloppy in possession and vulnerable to Lancaster's speed on his first Force appearance. The former sevens flyer broke the deadlock.

The visitors were powerless to stop Millennium Sanerivi's opener for Moana, the hooker shimmying and smashing past defenders imperiously.

His surge complemented their scrum dominance. Otherwise, there was a physical stalemate. Willing lineout drives were held back and Moana's knack of pinching turnovers made the Force cautious around the ruck. Still, Umaga's men couldn't dig themselves out of trouble.

- with Stuff