The Western Force posted their first win of the season and consigned the NSW Waratahs to their worst start to a Super Rugby campaign in 15 years.
Debutant fullback Dave Harvey enjoyed a dream debut as the Force squeezed out a spirited 21-20 victory in the Australian conference derby at Allianz Stadium.
Harvey, the 29-year-old nephew of Australian cricket great Neil Harvey, contributed 16 points from a try, conversion and three penalty goals.
And the two-times Ken Catchpole Medallist as Sydney club rugby’s best and fairest player produced his starring role in front of family and friends just days after signing a four-week contract for the injury-depleted Force.
The Gordon playmaker wasn’t the only debutant to enjoy a memorable night out, with winger Samu Wara crossing for the match-winning try in the 64th minute.
While the Force will be rejoicing after finally breaking their duck, the Waratahs’ frustrations continue.
After suffering similarly-narrow defeats against the high-flying Highlanders and titleholders the Queensland Reds, the Tahs have won just one from four, matching the franchise’s poor start in 1997.
The Waratahs looked to be back in business when five-eighth and captain Daniel Halangahu put his side four points in front with successive penalty goals in the 57th and 62nd minutes.
But Wara had the final say when he accepted a nice pass from hooker Nathan Charles and stepped inside Halangahu to dive over in the right corner two minutes later.
Despite proving somewhat of a fortress over the years, the Force’s against-the-odds win continues the Perth side’s impressive record in Sydney.
They have won two and drawn another of their four away clashes with the Waratahs.
The Waratahs had started well enough, with winger Adam Ashley-Cooper tagging on to a rolling maul and being rewarded for his initiative with the opening try after just five minutes.
Halangahu converted for a 7-0 lead.
Harvey notched his first points in Super Rugby with an easy 10th-minute penalty goal to reduce the deficit to four.
He then benefited from an inside offload from five-eighth James Stannard to cross and convert to give the Force a surprise 10-7 lead.
NSW regained the advantage just before the break with a fortuitous try to winger Tom Kingston.
Tahs halfback Sarel Pretorius appeared to knock the ball out of the hands of his Force opposite Brett Sheehan, but New Zealand referee Jonathon White ruled play on.
Pretorius toed the ball ahead and Kingston, with all the time in the world, calmly regathered and dived over in the corner.
Halangahu’s conversion had the Waratahs four points in front before Harvey’s second penalty in the 40th minute made it a one-point ball game at halftime.
Ashley-Cooper had a try denied early in the second half when centre Rob Horne was penalised for obstruction before Harvey put the Force briefly ahead again with a penalty in the 53rd minute.
The Tahs briefly regained the lead, only for Wara to crash the party late.
