Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

The Western Force vs NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific clash on Friday night saw the Western Force keep their finals hopes alive with a gritty 20-17 victory at Allianz Stadium.

Ben Donaldson and Dylan Pietsch returned to haunt their former club, outshining the much-hyped matchup between code-hoppers Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to secure a season-saving result.

This intense Australian derby follows another massive regional rivalry as the Queensland Reds vs ACT Brumbies prepare to battle for the Rod Macqueen Cup this weekend.

Former Waratahs Lead the Charge

While the spotlight was firmly on the one-time NRL teammates Zac Lomax and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, it was Dylan Pietsch who stole the show with a clinical two-try performance.

Dylan Pietsch willed his way over the line after a relentless 22-phase raid just before halftime, evening the scores at 10-10 and shifting the momentum back toward the visitors.

Ben Donaldson also delivered what critics described as a flyhalf masterclass, setting up two tries and proving his worth for future national duties.

"It's always good to beat your old teams, beat a few mates and put in a performance in front of friends and family," Ben Donaldson told Stan Sport after the final whistle.

Turning Point of the Match

Zac Lomax finally gained some personal revenge over Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, two years after a heavy NRL defeat, by terrorizing the NSW Waratahs defense with his superior aerial skills.

The match remained on a knife-edge until Dylan Pietsch cashed in on a line-break by Ben Donaldson 11 minutes into the second half to put the Western Force ahead for good.

NSW Waratahs replacement Folau Faianga scored a late try to create a nervous finish, but the Western Force defense held firm despite a series of late errors inside the attacking 22.

Coach and Player Reactions

Western Force coach Simon Cron admitted the victory was far from perfect, describing the closing stages of the match as a "tough watch."

"We had lots of opportunities to score points and score tries however, sometimes you've got to win ugly," Simon Cron remarked during his post-match assessment.

Fans can view the updated tournament standings and point tallies on the official Super Rugby website.

The Western Force now sit just two points behind the eighth-placed NSW Waratahs as the race for the top six intensifies.