Western Force make history with first Super Rugby finals appearance since club's 2006 inception
Updated . First published at
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The Force have booked their first Super Rugby finals berth by beating the Reds on an emotional night in Perth.
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Proud Force captain delivers beaming interview
That was a great interview with a proud Force captain Kyle Godwin.
"Since '06, since the inception of the Western Force we haven't been able to crack this one," Godwin said on Stan Sport.
"So proud of the boys, we created history tonight.
"To play with 14 men for so long is a credit to how we've been building.
"The Sea of Blue, we're in a lockdown as of midnight but they still came out tonight."
The Force celebrate after defeating the Reds. Getty
The Force will play the Brumbies in Canberra next weekend in the qualifying final.
The Reds will host the grand final in Brisbane on May 8.
FORCE WIN, THROUGH TO FINALS!
What a moment for the Force, forcing a Reds turnover and then holding their own scrum ball for Domingo Miotti to boot dead and seal a 30-27 win!
That means the Force will play the Brumbies in the Super Rugby AU qualifying final in Canberra, with the winner of that taking on the Reds in the grand final in Brisbane.
It is the Force's first Super Rugby finals appearance and ends the Rebels' hopes ahead of their clash with the Waratahs tomorrow night.
The Force celebrate after defeating the Reds to secure a finals berth. Getty
"Incredible scenes," Tim Horan says on Stan Sport.
"The Sea of Blue have waited so long to see their side have success.
"What a moment for Western Australia.
"About to go into lockdown and this is your present - their first ever finals."'
Hat trick hero fires Force in front!
Force winger Jordan Olowofela has scored a hat trick and the home side lead!
The flying Englishman showed express pace to collect a perfect grubber kick from super-sub Richard Kahui and the Force lead 30-27 after 75 minutes.
Thrush yellow carded for Force
Big blow for the Force here, as veteran lock Jeremy Thrush is yellow carded for his overly keen cleanout on Reds halfback Kalani Thomas.
James O'Connor knocks over the penalty and the Reds lead 27-23 after 69 minutes.
Miotti responds for Force
And now it's the Force No.10's turn to grab three points, as Domingo Miotti reduces the Reds' lead to 24-23 after 56 minutes.
And in case you missed it...
O'Connor boosts Reds lead
A penalty to James O'Connor sees the Reds stretch their lead to 24-20 after 53 minutes.
Olowofela has a double
Force winger Jordan Olowofela has a double!
There was some doubt over the grounding but the on-field call stands after a cracking passage of play from the home side.
The English winger is proving a smart buy.
The Reds lead 21-20 after 47 minutes.
Reds star sin-binned
Reds star Jordan Petaia is sin-binned for some lazy running under a high ball that put a leaping Force player in a very vulnerable position.
Reds 21, Force 15 at halftime
Tomas Cubelli boots the ball into touch and it's Reds 21, Force 15 at halftime.
Phew!
'Now we have a ball game'
Wallabies squad member Feleti Kaitu'u crashes over for the Force and the Reds lead is reduced to 21-15 after 39 minutes.
Kaitu'u has been a massive mover this season, and may well be the favourite to start in gold for Dave Rennie.
"Now we have a ball game," Tim Horan says on Stan Sport.
