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Cape Town - The Highlanders on Friday beat a dogged Western Force outfit 32-20 in their Super Rugby clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
The Force were overwhelming underdogs going into the match, but they got off to the perfect start to go 14-0 up inside the first 10 minutes.
First it was fullback Dane Haylett-Petty to capitalise on a massive blunder from Highlanders fullback Ben Smith before Ben McCalman rounded off a good attacking move from the visitors to put them two tries up.
It was tough going for the defending champion Highlanders, but they hit back with two tries of their own through Patrick Osborne and Dan Pryor to make it 14-14 at the break.
Force flyhalf Peter Grant started the second half by slotting a penalty, but the Highlanders went ahead through a try from Matt Faddes soon afterwards.
From there, the home side took control to close the game out, with the boot of Hayden Parker and a late try by Jason Emery ensuring the win.
In next weekend's Round 7 action, the Highlanders travel to Brisbane to face the Reds, while the Force host the Crusaders in Perth.
Scorers:
Highlanders
Tries: Patrick Osborne, Dan Pryor, Matt Faddes, Jason Emery
Conversions: Hayden Parker (2), Marty Banks
Penalties: Parker (2)
Force
Tries: Dane Haylett-Petty, Ben McCalman
Conversions: Peter Grant (2)
Penalties: Grant (2)
Teams:
Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds
Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Shane Christie (co-captain), 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Jason Emery
Force
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Ben Worship, 12 Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Heath Tessmann, 1 Pekahou Cowan
Substitutes: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Sitiveni (Steve) Memphis, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 Ryan Lourens, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Albert Nikoro
