The Western Force have survived a last-gasp surge for a 19-14 win over the Queensland Reds in Perth.

With the Force clinging to a five-point lead in the 77th minute, the Reds unleashed a fast break that had Treyvon Pritchard streaming down the wing.

Pritchard dished off an inside pass to fullback Jock Campbell with the line just 23m away, but Force flyhalf Max Burey got in the way and the ball deflected off him.

The Reds’ coaching staff were left fuming, believing it was a cynical knock-down by Burey. A yellow card or a penalty try could have been on the cards, but the referee deemed the ball had come off Burey’s chest in a legitimate play for the ball, ruling it a knock-down only.

The result left Queensland (6-6) clinging to sixth spot, just two points ahead of the seventh-placed Waratahs with two rounds remaining. 

The Force (5-7) moved up to ninth, and are now six points adrift of the Reds in the battle for a top-six berth.

Just a day after locking in coach Simon Cron for 2027, the Force opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Carlo Tizzano via a rolling maul. 

The Reds lost four of their nine lineouts in the first half,  continuing a worrying trend that has plagued them in recent weeks.

They also conceded the first four penalties of the match.

But once Queensland finally worked their way into the game, they made the Force scrap for dear life in defence for extended periods.

Reds flanker Joe Brial broke through in the 20th minute to level the scores, but the Reds left a number of other golden chances go begging.

Winger Lachie Anderson couldn’t pick up a grubbered ball in his attempt to dive and trap the ball at the same time for a try.

And prized Force recruit Zac Lomax, who received a rude awakening earlier in the match when he was crunched in a tackle by lock Hamish Muller, produced a try-saving juggling intercept when the Reds were just metres away from scoring. 

Scores were locked at 7-7 at halftime, and the second half featured a glut of line-breaks as both sides found space to weave their magic.

Lomax’s pressure going for a high ball allowed Mac Grealy to dive on the crumbs for a 44th-minute try.

And after Reds winger Tim Ryan replied a short time later, the Force hit the lead again when a Burey chip kick and a juggling grab from George Bridge set up Tizzano for his second try of the match in the 55th minute.

It proved to be the final score of the match, leaving the Reds to digest what could end up being a costly loss.

Western Force 19 (Tries: Tizzano 2, Grealy; Cons: Burey 2) def Queensland Redw 14 (Tries: Brial, Ryan; Cons: Werchon 2)

Teams

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Zac Lomax, 13 George Bridge, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Max Burey, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vailoni Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Misinale Epenisa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Johnson-Holmes

Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Kurtley Beale

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Lachie Anderson, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Joe Bryant, 6 Joe Brial, 5 Seru Uru, 4 Hamish Muller, 3 Massimo De Luttis, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 George Blake

Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Charlie Brosnan, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Treyvon Pritchard

Referee: Jordan Way

Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey

TMO: James Leckie