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AAP
AAP
Darren Walton and Justin Chadwick

Waratahs belt defending Super Rugby Women champions

Maya Stewart has crossed for two tries in the Waratahs' thumping win over the Drua in Fiji. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The NSW Waratahs have exacted some revenge with a comprehensive 62-21 Super Rugby Women's win over defending champions Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

The Waratahs piled on 10 tries to consolidate top spot on the ladder and turn the tables on the Drua after two painful finals losses to the Pacific Islanders.

The Tahs had their four-year title streak ended by the Drua in the 2022 decider, before slipping up again in last year's semis after finishing the regular season as undefeated minor premiers.

Their hunger for redemption was on full display on Saturday as the Waratahs were never headed after Maya Stewart scored the first of her two tries in the second minute of the match.

Fellow winger Desiree Miller also notched a double.

Centre Georgina Friedrichs, prop Bridie O'Gorman, lock Katie Leaney, hooker Brittany Merlo, flanker Sky Churchill and replacement forward Eva Karpani also crossed as the Waratahs converted a 24-14 halftime lead into a 41-point rout.

"It was a really physical game," Waratahs captain Piper Duck said.

"And the way they play the offload game with such intensity, they really put us under the pump today, so I'm really happy we got out on top there.

"But that score does not resemble how hard that game was. That was tough."

Western Force player Sara Cline (centre) runs with the ball.
Sara Cline (centre) scored a memorable try as the Western Force downed the Queensland Reds. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

The Western Force are on track to make the finals for the first time after posting a 24-14 win over the Queensland Reds at HBF Park.

The Force scored four tries to two against last year's beaten grand finalists to improve their record to 2-0.

With four of the six teams to make finals and only three more regular-season games to go, the second-placed Force will only need one more victory to lock up a finals berth. 

"It was good that it was our first time ever beating Queensland since coming into this competition in 2018," Force coach Dylan Parsons said.

"To go two from two, and with a bonus point as well, puts us in a good position (to make finals), but this competition can change pretty quickly.

"We know the next two weeks are going to be a big challenge because we've got the travel to Fiji, and then we're coming back to play the Waratahs."

Reds hooker Tiaran Molloy scored the opening try of Saturday's match in the third minute, but the Force hit back to take a 14-7 lead into the break.

The highlight of the first half was a fast-moving 23-metre rolling maul from the Force that resulted in a try to hooker Sara Cline.

The Force's powerful rolling maul again came to the fore in the 59th minute, with reserve hooker Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke on the end this time around.

The Reds hit back seven minutes later when winger Ivania Wong made a break from inside her own half before dishing off to Caitlin Urwin to sprint 40m to the line.

Any nerves from the Force were eased in the 69th minute when substitute Siutiti Ma'ake flew over in the corner. 

The Force suffered two injury blows in the second half, with winger Rosie McGehan helped off the field with a knee problem, and former Black Ferns back-rower Pia Tapsell injuring her elbow.

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