The Western Force brought credibility back to their game despite the 14-10 loss to the Waratahs at ME Bank Stadium tonight.

Disappointment was etched all over the faces of an exhausted and drained Force side at the final whistle.

Two controversial penalties from referee Jaco Peyper in the dying seconds that received the expected treatment from the crowd, allowed the Tahs to get out of jail as the Force pressed for a win.

Instead they ended up with just one point - a bonus point, their first of any kind the year.

The fired-up Force were intent on erasing the memories of last week's 50-10 flogging in Brisbane and it would be easy to say the Waratahs were over-confident after their 73-12 stroll over the Lions. But they were taken to the brink by a home side that had added a hard nose to their game.

In a far more committed performance, the Force produced promising and fluid passages of play, completing multiple phases with discipline and patience.

They made the advantage line more than in previous outings and their leaking defence was well and truly plugged.

They took the Waratahs on through the middle of the defence and forced the visitors into the type of errors the Force themselves have been making in earlier games.

Coach John Mitchell got the accuracy he has been calling for at the ruck where the Force produced a number of turnovers.

There was huge improvement in the much maligned Force line-out, where they took all their ball.

With David Pocock still out with a damaged hand, man-of-the-match Matt Hodgson seized the opportunity to impress Wallaby selectors and won the contest against his opposite No7 the experienced Phil Waugh.

Centre Ryan Cross was more in evidence than previous outings and scrum half Brett Sheehan put in his usual mongrel-like performance.

After 40 minutes of quality play the Force went into the break with a lead, 10-8, for the first time this year.

Peyper, who raised a few eyebrows with his policing of the rucks, also penalised the Force scrum three times for front row offences.

The Force fell behind early from a Berrick Barnes penalty but James O'Connor raised the flag at the other end after 10 minutes.

Daniel Halangahu chipped through neatly for former Force flyer Drew Mitchell to scoop up and dive over but crowd favourite Scott Staniforth brought them to their feet when he scored his 40th Super try.

Intercepting a Barnes pass he raced 60 metres to go under the posts and O'Connor converted to put his side ahead for only the second time this year.

Midway through the second period the Tahs gained a one-point lead with a Halangahu penalty. He then stretched the lead to 14-10 with a second penalty a few minutes later.

He took over the kicking duties after Barnes three missed penalties and failed with the conversion attempt.

Chris O'Young had a chance to make a name for him self with 10 minutes remaining but was judged to have been held up over the line.

Young fullback Dane Haylett-Petty was a late withdrawal after failing a fitness test on his ankle. His place was taken by Mark Bartholomeusz who has returned from injury.

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