Brumbies too good for Force
The Canberra side outscored the Force by four tries to two in a match that saw three yellow cards handed out by referee Andrew Lees.
The home team's ill-discipline was starting to become a huge factor in the first half with Pekahou Cowan getting yellow carded for collapsing the maul after repeated infringements.
The Brumbies took full advantage of their extra man when captain Stephen Moore dotted the ball down from another driving maul, which stemmed from the Cowan penalty.
The visitors got their second try a few minutes later when Scott Fardy broke through the Force defence to feed Matt Toomua for the score.
The Brumbies were sitting on a comfortable 17-0 lead, but then opened the door for the Force to come back into the game after scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli got yellow carded for kicking the ball away.
After sustained pressure in the Brumbies half, the Force finally got on the scoreboard when a dummy from Jono Lance put Luke Morahan through a gap for a try.
That score gave the home side some much-needed confidence for the rest half, but could not add to their tally with Brumbies taking a 17-7 lead into half-time.
The Brumbies extended their lead 15 minutes after the break after some sustained pressure with Joe Tomane breaking through a poor Force defence for his team's third try.
Things then just got worse for the Force when wing Semisi Masirewa was yellow carded for tackling Henry Speight in the air.
Despite going a man down, the Force upped the ante and after a good grubber by replacement flyhalf Peter Grant it was Morahan who sent centre Ben Tapui away for his team's second try. Grant converted and the Brumbies' lead was cut to ten points with just 14 minutes remaining.
The home side tried to find another way through the Brumbies defence in the final ten, but instead it was the visitors who scored a fourth try through replacement hooker Josh Mann-Rea just before full-time.
Man of the Match: Matt Hodgson and David Pocock were both brilliant for their respective teams. They carried the ball like demons and put in a number of tackles on defence. However, it was Pocock with his brilliance at the breakdowns who takes the award.
The scorers:
For Western Force:
Try: Morahan, Tapui
Con: Lance, Grant
For Brumbies:
Tries: Moore, Toomua, Tomane, Mann-Rea
Cons: Lealiifano 4
Pen: Lealiifano
Yellow cards: Pekahou Cowan (Western Force, 15 - repeated infringements, collapsing the maul); Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies, 27 - professional foul, kicking the ball away); Semisi Masirewa (Western Force, 56 - dangerous play, taking the man out in the air)
Teams:
Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Solomoni Rasolea, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Brynard Stander, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Heath Tessmann, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Angus Cottrell, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Peter Grant, 23 Marcel Brache.
Brumbies: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 9 Tomás Cubelli, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (co-captain), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia), Michael Hogan (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)