[Source: Melbourne Rebels Facebook Page]

It was Fijian sensation Marika Koroibete that saved the Melbourne Rebels their first win in the Super Rugby AU season.

The Rebels shot out to a 10-0 lead in the 62nd minute when a steaming run by Koroibete set up the try for the scrum half Joe Powell.

The game took a turn in the 69th minute when the Force scored a try through substitute Jack McGregor and Rebels lock Ross Haylett-Petty was red-carded for his action in the lead-up.

The Rebels were forced to defend grimly for the rest of the match, and they hung tough under intense pressure – and also won a penalty on the Force’s scrum feed in the final minute – to seal their first win of the season.

The Force were sloppy in the first half, committing a host of errors and losing three key lineouts to hand the Rebels field position time and again in front of 7762 fans.

Force flyhalf Jake McIntyre missed a penalty in the 20th minute and then failed to find touch with a penalty kick four minutes later.

Rebels hooker James Hanson almost scored a try in the 25th minute, only for the ball to squeeze out as he was being tackled over the try line.

But the Rebels were on the board a minute later when they put the Force under the pump for six phases before swinging it wide for winger Lachlan Anderson to cross.

The Force had just 17 per cent territory and 28 per cent possession in the first half.

McIntyre’s kicking woes continued early in the second half when his attempted kick for touch from a penalty sailed over the try line.

Star Force fullback Rob Kearney also failed to find touch with a penalty kick.

The Force were given a reprieve when To’omua hit the post with a tricky penalty kick in the 53rd minute.

But there was no stopping Koroibete’s run, which sliced open the Force’s defence for Powell to touch down in the corner.

The Force lifted a gear after that, and a series of deft passes in the 69th minute found its way to McGregor to score.

Force captain Ian Prior nailed the conversion from the sideline to make it 10-7.

[Source: Rugby.com.au]