The Force scored four tries as they beat the visitors from Bloemfontein for their first victory in the four-match series.

The Cheetahs led the match 17-13 half time, and towards the backend of the game it looked as if they would claim a third win, however, they were heavily punished, which allowed the Force to regain the lead and ultimately hold on for the victory. While the Cheetahs' discipline wasn’t good, there were certainly some questionable decisions that went against them.

The Force opened the scoring in the 13th minute with the the flanker Carlo Tizzano scoring the first of his two tries, however the Cheetahs struck back with a penalty by Ruan Pienaar.

George Poolman then scored for the Force in the corner, before Max Burey landed a penalty.

Gideon van der Merwe and Hencus van Wyk both scored for the Free State in the last ten minutes of the first stanza for the lead at the break.

The lock, Jackson Pugh, opened the scoring in the second half with a try for the Force, but Pienaar soon levelled matters with another penalty.

The hooker Marnus van der Merwe regained the lead with a try from a lineout maul and Pienaar slotted the conversion from the tryline.

Another Tizzano try and Burey penalty saw the Force regain the lead and from there they held on for the victory. 

The Cheetahs will want to address their discipline as yellow cards to Carl Wegner and Daniel Maartens is simply not good enough.

The final match of the series will be played on 7 October at the Revo Fitness Stadium in Perth.

Scorers:

Force: Tries – Carlo Tizzano 2, George Poolman, Jackson Pugh,  Conv. – Max Burey 2 Pen. – Burey 2

Cheetahs: Tries – Gideon van der Merwe, Hencus van Wyk, Marnus van der Merwe Conv. – Ruan Pienaar 3 Pen. – Pienaar 2 

Teams:

Western Force - 15 Harry Potter, 14 George Poolman, 13 Sam Spink, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Max Burey, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Jeremy Williams, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Faamanu Kalolo, 5 Lopeti Faifua, 4 Jackson Pugh, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 2 Tom Horton, 1 Marley Pearce

Replacements - 16 Ford Hemi, 17 Angus Wagner, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Reagan Leslie, 20 Albert Alcock, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Rewita Biddle

Cheetahs - 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Laurence Victor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Replacements - 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Carl Wegner, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Jeandré Rudolph, 22 Raegan Oranje, 23 George Lourens

Morgan Piek OFM Sport