Source: Radio New Zealand
Moana Pasifika’s Solomon Alaimalo up against Western Force’s Darby Lancaster. Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
The Western Force have finally got a win on the road in Super Rugby Pacific.
For only the second time in 26 matches on New Zealand soil the Force have recorded a victory, with a 35-19 over Moana Pasifika in Pukekohe on Friday night.
It was the Force’s first win of the season after two road losses in the first two rounds.
The visitors scored first after a period of pressure with Force debutant Darby Lancaster crossing for a try in the sixth minute when a toe-poke from the competition’s leading scorer, Ben Donaldson, sat up for winger.
Moana hooker Millennium Sanerivi levelled the scores after 20 minutes when he peeled off the maul and crashed through a few Force players to get across the try line.
A disallowed try for former All Black George Bridge just after the half hour mark temporarily prevented the Force taking a lead, until second rower Darcy Swain finally drove over from close to the line three minutes later for their second try.
Bridge did get his try just before the break when he dove under the defence to score and take a 21-7 lead at half-time.
Neither team could take hold of the game for most of the second half as both teams made several substitutions to try and get the advantage.
Force forward Carlo Tizzano, who lead the competition in try-scoring last season, found his way across the try line off the back of the maul for his third of this season in the 62nd minute.
The Force’s forwards also set up their fifth try of the night with replacement player Argentine Leonel Oviedo scoring his first Super Rugby try.
Mounting penalties and an inability finish off phases of play cost Moana who were playing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, albeit at their alternative home venue of Navigation Homes Stadium.
Melani Matavao did score a try for the home side with less than 10 minutes left in the game and Allan Craig was the last to score on full time showing what Moana could have done had they been playing at that level the whole game.
There were several Head Injury Assessments in the physical game, including three in the first half which included one for Donaldson who took a knock in the warm up.
Donaldson missed the first few minutes of the game but came on to make an impact and was perfect off the tee throughout the game.
Force have now won back to back games against Moana after prevailing by one point last season.
Follow how all the action unfolded below:
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/27/moana-pasifika-v-western-force-at-navigation-homes-stadium-super-rugby-pacific/