Western Force 26-19 Reds: Eto Nabuli hat-trick in vain
Last Updated: 02/03/17 3:12pm
Eto Nabuli scored a hat-trick but it was not enough to lift the Reds to victory as they were beaten 26-19 at Western Force.
Chance Peni's stunning second-minute try got the Force off to a flyer but the Reds hit back with two tries in as many minutes from rugby league convert Nabuli, the second of which was an incredible length-of-the-field score.
The teams were deadlocked at 12-12 at the interval after lock Matt Philip's 34th-minute try but the Reds retook the lead when Nabuli bagged his third, with Quade Cooper converting.
The Force struck back through successive penalties in the 54th and 67th minute, both from the boot of Ian Prior, and they snatched their first home victory since 2015 through a late try from Curtis Rona, another rugby league convert.
"I think 12 months ago we might not have carried this off but there is a lot of confidence in this group," said Force captain Heath Tessmann.