The Western Force have trounced the Queensland Reds, defying the last-minute scratching of NRL recruit Zac Lomax to notch a much-needed Super Rugby Pacific bonus-point win.
Saturday's 42-19 result at Suncorp Stadium came after convert Lomax was ruled out less than an hour before kick-off due to hamstring tightness.
That mattered little to the visitors, who finally converted a good start into victory after four losses this season despite leading at halftime.
They improved to 2-5 while the Reds fell to 4-3, their second-straight loss dropping them to sixth when victory could have shot them into third place.
The Force had lost 11 of their last 12 games and 22 of their last 24 on the road, while the Reds had won nine of their last 11 encounters.
Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson excelled up against Reds No.10 and Wallabies rival Carter Gordon, running incisive lines and kicking potently both in-play and off the tee.
Argentinian lock Franco Molina, in for injured Force skipper Jeremy Williams, had a night out with a first-half double and several clutch lineout plays before rolling over for his third try after the final hooter.
Force fullback Mac Grealy also impressed against his former side, scoring a try after terrific build-up, while his opposite Jock Campbell was one of many Reds who struggled.
Teenage Reds winger Treyvon Pritchard lasted less than 10 minutes into his starting debut, failing his Head Injury Assessment after copping a knock when making a cover tackle.
Force prop Tom Robertson followed him soon after when he was caught out of position tackling Tim Ryan.
And Force winger Darby Lancaster limped off with a lower leg injury after leaping over Campbell to catch a Donaldson bomb and put his side ahead 28-12.
A late 80-metre effort, finished by Reds winger Filipo Daugunu, looked likely to deny the Force their first bonus-point win over the Reds since 2012 before Molina's third after the siren.
Lomax watched it all from the sidelines after pulling up sore following Thursday's main session in the latest twist to the winger's rollercoaster year.
Western Force 42 (Tries: Molina 3, Grealy, Paenga-Amosa, Lancaster; Cons: Donaldson 6) def Queensland Reds 19 (Tries: Ryan, Brial, Daugunu; Cons: Campbell 2)
Teams:
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Treyvon Pritchard, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Seru Uru, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan.
Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (captain), 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Hamish Stewart
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
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