Western Force forward Ben McCalman is urged to push forward by team-mate Sam Wykes
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Matches: Force 19-18 Highlanders

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Western Force fullback Jayden Hayward kicked the match-winning penalty to seal a 19-18 Super Rugby win over the Highlanders in Saturday night's wooden spoon battle in Perth.

In a match dominated by the boot, the Highlanders hit the lead in the 77th minute when five-eighth Colin Slade nailed a 51-metre penalty.

But Hayward had the final laugh against his former side, making no mistake with his 79th-minute attempt from 24m out on a slight angle.

The Highlanders were made to pay for a series of costly errors at the death.

Hayward only received the penalty after Highlanders substitute Tino Nemani unleashed a dangerous and late tackle on the Force speedster.

And the Highlanders spurned a chance to win it in the final minute when Slade knocked the ball on as he attempted to offload just 15m from the tryline.

The Force entered the match just three points ahead of the last-placed Highlanders, but their third win of the season now lifts them six points clear of the struggling Dunedin-based franchise.

The Highlanders still have four games to play, but they will now need a major form turnaround to avoid finishing last.

The Force will receive an automatic four points next week for their bye, before rounding off their season with home games against the Waratahs and Brumbies.

Genuine highlights were few and far between with both sides turning to the boot in the opening half in their bid to gain crucial field position.

Neither side were able to use the tactic to any great effect, but the Force were rewarded for a series of crisp passes in the 17th minute when five-eighth Sias Ebersohn touched down in the corner.

From that point, it was a penalty kick-off as Hayward and Slade traded blows from the boot.

The Force looked a tad vulnerable when halfback Alby Mathewson was sin-binned in the 61st minute for deliberate offside.

But they managed to hold firm in defence when it mattered most, with a scrambling effort by Kyle Godwin and Ben McCalman denying Ma'a Nonu a try in the 62nd minute.

The Force suffered a blow before the match when winger Nick Cummins was forced out through injury.