Fehi Fineanganofo of the Hurricanes. Photo: James Worsfold/ActionPress
The Hurricanes and Force have drawn 17-all in Perth, despite an extra time period that handed both chances to win. The match ended with a late drop goal attempt from Ruben Love, that clanked off the upright and consigned both teams to frustratingly share the competition points.
It means the Hurricanes drop down to seventh place, facing an uphill battle over the remaining rounds to pick up some momentum and get themselves back into play-off contention.
However, the entire experience could be described as frustrating for the Hurricanes, despite a bright start. They started well with a try to wing Fatafehi Fineanganofo after some excellent lead up work by Xavier Numia, and enjoyed a big territorial advantage in the first half. But that didn't count for much when they couldn't add to their total and the Force answered back with a tries to Bayley Kuenzle and Mac Grealy for a 14-5 halftime lead.
Love, who started the match at first five thanks to a dearth of options, was at times brilliant on attack but also showed that it's not his favoured position with some questionable option-taking. Fullback Callum Harkin couldn't blame that for his inexplicable decision to fling a horrible pass inside with the line wide open in the second half, with the resulting mess leading to a turnover and clearance by the Force.
As if the Hurricanes weren't making it difficult enough for themselves, Asafo Aumua, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Peter Umaga-Jensen were all forced from the field with failed HIAs.
Harkin did hang on to the ball long enough to score in the 48th minute, with the impressive Fineanganofo grabbing a double not long after, but Harkin's missed conversion crucially only left the Hurricanes with a slender 17-14 lead. With time running out, Force first five Ben Donaldson cooly slotted home a penalty goal from 45 metres out to even the scores and send the game to sudden death extra time.
Donaldson had another chance from the tee from just on his own side of halfway during extra time, however the attempt just drifted away to the left.
The result means the Force continue their somewhat surprising run to relevance in 2025, as they stay in fifth spot, but they will face a tough ask on Friday with a trip to Hamilton to play the Chiefs. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have a big challenge of their own in Canberra against the Brumbies.
Read how the game unfolded here:
