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A Matt Giteau penalty in the 81st minute has given the Emirates Western Force a 22-21 win over the Chiefs in front of 21,549 fans at Subiaco Oval tonight.
In yet another thrilling finale in Perth, Giteau calmly slotted the kick from the apex of the 22m and 15m lines to give the home side a deserved victory.
The Emirates Western Force outplayed the Chiefs in the first half, with a try scored by number eight, Matt Hodgson in just the third minute giving the side a 7-0 lead after a successful conversion from Matt Giteau.
Stephen Donald slotted a penalty goal six minutes later, but that was the only score from the away team for the half.
A try to Drew Mitchell, converted by Giteau, saw the home side take a 14-3 lead into the half time break.
The second half scoring was opened by the Chiefs’ Lelia Masaga in the 42nd minute to cut the margin to 14-8.
A try to Emirates Western Force scrumhalf James Stannard in the 62nd minute was answered just three minutes later by a try to Donald, who converted to cut the gap to 19-15.
A penalty goal to Donald made it 19-18 with 10 minutes to go, and when Callum Bruce slotted a field goal in the 76th minute it looked like the Chiefs would pinch an unlikely win.
But after a try to Cameron Shepherd was disallowed by the TMO, Giteau stepped up with his last second heroics to seal the four competition points for the under strength home side.
Drew Mitchell was named Man of the Match, while Nathan Sharpe, Scott Fava and Ryan Cross were in good form.
Youngsters James O’Connor, Kieran Longbottom and Dane Haylett-Petty acquitted themselves well also.
3rd Minute: Try to the Emirates Western Force scored by Matt Hodgson. Successful conversion to Matt Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 7-0
9th Minute: Successful penalty goal to Chiefs scored by Stephen Donald.
10th Minute: Emirates Western Force - Kieran Longbottom replaces Pek Cowan-injury
11th Minute: Try to Emirates Western Force scored by Drew Mitchell. Successful conversion to Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 14-3
HALF TIME SCORE: Emirates Western Force 14 Chiefs 3
42nd Minute: Try to the Chiefs scored by Lelia Masaga. Unsuccessful conversion to Donald. Emirates Western Force lead 14-8.
62nd Minute: Try to Emirates Western Force scored by James Stannard. Unsuccessful conversion to Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 19-8.
64th Minutes: Emirates Western Force - Sitaleki Timani replaces David Pusey
65th Minute: Try to Chiefs scored by Donald. Successful conversion to Donald. Emirates Western Force lead 19-15.
67th Minute: Emirates Western Force - Richard Brown replaces Matt Hodgson.
70th Minute: Penalty Goal to Chiefs kicked by Donald. Emirates Western Force lead 19-18.
71st Minute: Emirates Western Force - Luke Holmes replaces Tai McIssac.
74th Minute: Emirates Western Force - Scott Daruda replaces O’Connor, Dane Haylett-Petty replaces Nick Cummins, Chris O’Young replaces James Stannard and Tai McIsaac replaces Troy Takiari.
76th Minute: Drop goal to Chiefs scored by Dwayne Sweeney. Chiefs lead 21-19.
81st Minute: Penalty goal to the Emirates Western Force kicked by Giteau. Emirates Western Force lead 22-21.
FULL TIME: Emirates Western Force 22 Chiefs 21
Emirates Western Force 22 (Hodgson, Mitchell, Stannard tries. Giteau 2 cons, 1 pen)
Chiefs 21 (Masaga, Donald tries. Donald 1 con, 2 pens, Bruce 1 d/g)