Drua Survives
HALTIME: Fiji Airways Fijian Drua 33-14 Canberra Vikings A minute after kickoff a blunder by the Drua saw JacksonHope score in the corner and Hawera’s conversion from the touchline brought the score closer 33-21.
Halfback Joe Powell scored after an interchange of passes from a maul. Hawera converted for Drua to lead 33-28.
Fifteen minutes after the break, the Vikings forwards powered over for a try to replacement forward Maxwell Bode to sail ahead 35-33 after a successful conversion.
The Drua replied with a try to Kurumudu after some hard play and inter-passing. Veitokani converted for the Drua to lead 40-35.
In the last 10minutes, the Drua were left to play with 14 men after captain Mosese Voka was sin-binned.
COMMENTS
Drua coach Senirusi Seruvakula said, “A win is a win but it was a very disappointing game for us. In the second half there were a lot of errors and we need to play smart. We have to be patient and cannot play open rugby for 80 minutes.” Vikings head coach Nick Scrivener said, “Obviously it is very disappointing first half from us and we allowed the Drua do what they do best. “We got ourselves back but it was too late. The ball was very slippery and so was the Drua.”
The Fiji Airways Fijian Drua side fought off a second half surge by the Canberra Vikings to win 40-35 under blistering conditions at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The home side almost blew a 33-14 halftime lead but managed to score one try in the second spell that earned them the victory.
The Drua side sat back on their laurels after the break which allowed the visitors to score three converted tries and lead 35-33 within 20 minutes of the second half.
Drua were hit hard after the 11th minute when a backline move fell apart and a loose ball was kicked ahead by Canberra Vikings centre Len Ikitau to score. Conversion by Wharenui Hawera put the Vikings up 7-0.
Soon after kick-off, Fiji went on the attack and a break down the middle saw fullback Apisalome Waqatabu score and convert to level 7-7. Five minutes late the Drua went through another typical burst saw winger Levani Kurumudu score and Waqatabu put Fiji further ahead 14-7.
In the 35th minute a nudge ahead by Alivereti Veitokani left the Vikings in shamble and Waqatabu booted ahead to pick and score. Waqatabu converted to put the Drua further ahead 21-7. Minutes later Kurumudu was left to sail down the flanks leaving the tiring Vikings side in his wake. Waqatabu failed to convert for the Drua to lead 26-7.
Again they went on the rampage and Aporosa Tabulawaki stride along the touchline to score under the post and an easy conversion by Waqatabu saw the Drua hit a 33-7 lead.
A blunder by Waqatabu from a drop ball infront of the posts was picked up by Jordan Jackson-Hope and a conversion by Hawera saw the teams go to the break with the Drua leading 33-14.