Force end Reds streak to secure first final in team’s history

English winger Jordan Olowofela scored a hat-trick as the Western Force secured a Super Rugby AU finals spot with a 30-27 victory at Perth Oval on Friday that handed the Queensland Reds their first defeat of the season.

Olowofela crossed for his third try six minutes from time to give the home side the lead and they withstood wave after wave of attacks to secure post-season play for the first time in the team’s 16-year history.

Jordan Olowofela celebrates one of his three tries on Friday night.Credit:Getty

They looked every bit the champions elect as they raced to a 21-7 lead after 24 minutes on the back of tries from Wallabies Hunter Paisami, Taniela Tupou and Filipo Daugunu.

The Force revel in their fighting spirit, however, and battled back to within a point soon after the break courtesy of Olowofela’s first two tries and another from hooker Feleti Kaitu’u.

Two penalties from Reds flyhalf James O’Connor to one from Force playmaker Domingo Miotti allowed the Reds to extend their lead but the injection of Richard Kahui in the 74th minute proved decisive.

The former All Black dinked a grubber kick in behind the Reds defence and Olowofela snatched the ball out of O’Connor’s hands before racing to the line to touch down and secure a third straight win for the Force.

Reuters

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