Defending champions Waratahs rally for late Force win

The NSW Waratahs have come up with a crucial 26-21 win in the final minute to take down the Western Force.

Replacement Adiana Talakai was the hero, scoring with seconds remaining via a powerful rolling maul.

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It stole victory for the hosts, who trailed for the majority of the game until the final seconds.

The Waratahs were boosted by a host of returning Wallaroos and it was flyer Desiree Miller that got them off to a perfect start.

Miller beat three defenders and crashed over for the opener as the Waratahs looked to rebound after last week’s defeat.

However, they would be asked to chase the game once again after two straight Force tries.

It started with number eight Ash Marsters spinning and stretching over for the Force’s first points of the afternoon.

Fellow back-rower Anneka Stephens followed her over to give the visitors a 14-5 lead as they hunted their maiden win over the Waratahs.

With the Waratahs under pump, Miller was once again the hero to get them back into the game before the break, running a great inside line to score next to the posts for her second.

The hosts pushed for an answer, but their handling them down.

They had multiple opportunities inside the Force’s 22 but couldn’t make the final pass stick.

It allowed the Force to rally back into the game and deliver a timely blow through Wallaroo Cecilia Smith.

Smith took advantage of a Force pack that dominated set piece-wise and stepped the covering defence to put the margin outside a converted try.

Needing a spark, Leilani Nathan bulldozes her way over the line to reduce the margin to two with eight minutes to go.

It inspired the Waratahs as they backed the rolling maul to deliver the goods.

The first one was dragged down by the Force illegally but they couldn’t stop the second as Talakai celebrated a crucial win for the defending champions.

At Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Tries: Desiree Miller (2), Adiana Talakai, Leilani Nathan

Conversions: Arabella McKenzie (3)

Tries: Ashley Marsters, Anneka Stephens, Cecilia Smith

Conversions: Grace Freeman (2), Nicole Leddington