Western Force 31 - 26 Crusaders

Full time

18 Apr 2026

Super Rugby Pacific

Stage: Regular Season Round 10

HBF Park

Western Force vs Crusaders head to head

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The Western Force edged out the Crusaders 31-26 in a thrilling Super Rugby encounter at HBF Park. The Crusaders took an early lead with tries from Bell, Fainga'anuku, and McNicholl, alongside conversions from Kemara. The Force responded with a strong showing, highlighted by Henry Robertson's two tries and Ben Donaldson's accurate kicking. Despite losing Nick Champion de Crespigny to a yellow card, the Force rallied back to score crucial tries in the second half from Lomax and Hotham. The match saw a fierce exchange of physicality and quick scoring, with both teams trading leads. Tahlor Cahill's yellow card for the Force added pressure late in the game, but they held on to secure the win. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the Force against a previously dominant Crusaders side.

Broadcasters

Where to watch in: New Zealand, United Kingdom

Weather

Temperature: 17.8°C (Feels like 16.2°C) Condition: MostlyClear Wind: 8.6 km/h, gusting to 20.0 km/h Humidity: 58% Cloud Cover: 25%

Highlights

Events

Kickoff
4'

Try

George Bell · Crusaders

0 - 5
5'

Conversion

Taha Kemara · Crusaders

0 - 7
15'

Yellow Card

Nick Champion de Crespigny · Western Force
18'

Try

Leicester Fainga'anuku · Crusaders

0 - 12
18'

Conversion

Taha Kemara · Crusaders

0 - 14
21'

Try

Johnny McNicholl · Crusaders

0 - 19
25'

Yellow Card Complete

Nick Champion de Crespigny · Western Force
34'

Try

Henry Robertson · Western Force

5 - 19
35'

Conversion

Ben Donaldson · Western Force

7 - 19
40'

Substitution

George Bower on for Finlay Brewis · Crusaders
Halftime 7 - 19
Second Half
44'

Try

Henry Robertson · Western Force

12 - 19
45'

Conversion

Ben Donaldson · Western Force

14 - 19
45'

Substitution

Noah Hotham on for Louie Chapman · Crusaders
49'

Substitution

Rivez Reihana on for Taha Kemara · Crusaders
53'

Try

Zac Lomax · Western Force

19 - 19
54'

Substitution

Sef Fa'agase on for Tom Robertson · Western Force
55'

Substitution

Harry Johnson-Holmes on for Misinale Epenisa · Western Force
55'

Substitution

Franco Molina on for Darcy Swain · Western Force
57'

Try

Noah Hotham · Crusaders

19 - 24
58'

Conversion

Rivez Reihana · Crusaders

19 - 26
58'

Substitution

Nic Dolly on for Brandon Paenga-Amosa · Western Force
58'

Substitution

Hamish Stewart on for Zac Lomax · Western Force
58'

Substitution

Nathan Hastie on for Henry Robertson · Western Force
59'

Substitution

Oli Mathis on for Johnny Lee · Crusaders
60'

Yellow Card

Tahlor Cahill · Crusaders
62'

Try

Dylan Pietsch · Western Force

24 - 26
68'

Substitution

Manumaua Letiu on for George Bell · Crusaders
68'

Substitution

Kershawl Sykes-Martin on for Seb Calder · Crusaders
68'

Substitution

Toby Bell on for Johnny McNicholl · Crusaders
70'

Try

Harry Johnson-Holmes · Western Force

29 - 26
70'

Yellow Card Complete

Tahlor Cahill · Crusaders
71'

Conversion

Ben Donaldson · Western Force

31 - 26
71'

Substitution

Corey Kellow on for Christian Lio-Willie · Crusaders
71'

Substitution

Will Harris on for Vaiolini Ekuasi · Western Force
73'

Substitution

Kurtley Beale on for Dylan Pietsch · Western Force
Fulltime 31 - 26

Player ratings

Western Force

15 Mac Grealy 8.2
14 Zac Lomax 7.7
13 George Bridge 7.8
12 Bayley Kuenzle 7.3
11 Dylan Pietsch 8.4
10 Ben Donaldson 7.5
9 Henry Robertson 8.0
1 Tom Robertson 7.7
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa 7.6
3 Misinale Epenisa 6.9
4 Jeremy Williams 8.5
5 Darcy Swain 7.0
6 Nick Champion de Crespigny 5.7
7 Carlo Tizzano 8.1
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi 7.2
16 Nic Dolly 7.1
17 Sef Fa'agase 7.0
18 Harry Johnson-Holmes 7.2
19 Franco Molina 6.8
20 Will Harris –
21 Nathan Hastie 6.7
22 Hamish Stewart 6.7
23 Kurtley Beale –

Crusaders

15 Johnny McNicholl 7.4
14 Sevu Reece 5.9
13 Leicester Fainga'anuku 7.7
12 Dallas McLeod 7.4
11 Macca Springer 7.5
10 Taha Kemara 7.3
9 Louie Chapman 6.2
1 Finlay Brewis 7.1
2 George Bell 8.3
3 Seb Calder 6.1
4 Tahlor Cahill 5.3
5 Jamie Hannah 7.3
6 Dom Gardiner 6.0
7 Johnny Lee 7.3
8 Christian Lio-Willie 6.9
16 Manumaua Letiu 6.3
17 George Bower 6.1
18 Kershawl Sykes-Martin 6.1
19 Oli Mathis 6.3
20 Corey Kellow –
21 Noah Hotham 6.8
22 Rivez Reihana 6.4
23 Toby Bell 5.9