Force 29 Brumbies 22
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher has been given a Super 14 send-off he will want to forget, seeing his side surrender a 22-point lead to eventually lose 29-22 to a fast-finishing Western Force at Subiaco Oval.
In a first half which affirmed Fisher's hopes of bright Brumbies future without him, the visitors had a bonus point before the Force had their first point, with four tries to Francis Fainifo, Mark Gerrard and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the first 25 minutes.
But after teenager James O'Connor's first try in Super 14 just before half time, the Force produced one of the more remarkable comebacks of the season, swallowing up the lead with tries to Josh Tatupu, Matt Giteau and Chris O'Young.
Giteau's penalty stretched the lead out to seven and, after it had looked a certainty they would be beaten by all three Australian sides, the Force finish the year as the second best Australian side - sending Fisher into the job market with his 20th loss as a head coach.
The injuries which plagued the Force's season hit them again on the last day of the season, with Drew Mitchell's ankle injury ruling him out not only of this game, but almost certainly the early Tests against Ireland and France.
Brumbies skipper Stirling Mortlock showed no sympathy, smashing into O'Connor with his first carry and celebrating moments later as Christian Leiliifano's chip bounced up perfectly for Fainifo to amble over inside two minutes.
With the Force defence in disarray, the next Brumbies possession was again too easily capitalised on four minutes later, with George Smith's pass avoiding the Force defenders and finding Gerrard unopposed.
On 19 minutes, Mortlock's quick hands out of the tackle fed Fainifo for his second and, with Brumbies hands slick and Force fans sick, the bonus point was wrapped up five minutes later, static Force defence exploited by another Smith pass to Ashley-Cooper.
Only Mortlock's three missed conversions spared the Force complete embarrassment, before the 22-point lead was cut by O'Connor's dancing feet on 33 minutes.
It seemed the teenager's first Super 14 try could only be a consolation - until giving the Sevens specialist more room at first receiver sparked the Force's own double whammy within ten minutes of the second half starting.
First O'Connor's loop opened up space for Giteau and Haig Sare to send Tatupu galloping over.
Then Giteau reminded the Brumbies what they were missing, with a brilliant step to send him cantering over.
Mark Chisholm's running riposte was brutally ended by a Cameron Shepherd tackle, and when Gerrard's up-and-down night took a dreadful turn with a goalline fumble, Force's patience paid off when O'Young burrowed over to snatch the lead.
With both sides scoring four tries, Giteau's penalty was a moment of sanity in an increasingly crazy night, leaving the Force with their first ever win over the Brumbies and one spot ahead of them on the Super 14 ladder.
WESTERN FORCE 29 (James O'Connor, Josh Tatupu, Matt Giteau Chris O'Young tries Giteau 3 cons, pen) bt ACT BRUMBIES 22 (Francis Fainifo 2 Mark Gerrard, Adam Ashley-Cooper tries, Stirling Mortlock con) at Subiaco Oval, Perth. Referee: Nathan Pearce (Aus). Crowd: 21,350.
AAP
