Fijian Drua goes down preventing

The Swire Transport Fijian Drua went down preventing 24-27 to the Queensland Reds in spherical 4 of the Store N Save Tremendous Rugby competitors on the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia final night.

The Fijian Drua went into the fixture on a excessive after upsetting defeating champions the Crusaders 25-24 at Churchill Park in Lautoka final week and almost made an ideal begin when quantity eight Elia Canakaivata burst his approach by way of the Reds defence solely to lose the ball near the tryline.

The Fijian Drua obtained a penalty following that which was transformed by Frank Lomani.

Within the twelfth minute, Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu saved the ball alive following a cross kick which was then popped up by Harry Wilson and gathered off the bottom by Josh Flook to get the primary 5 pointer for the hosts.

The Drua had been diminished to 14 gamers after Kitione Salawa was despatched to the sin bin for tipping Ryan Smith past the horizontal.

Flook scored his second strive within the twenty ninth minute after a fast cross from Fraser McReight.

The Reds led 12-3 at halftime.

The house workforce began the second spell strongly with again to again tries to Wilson and Vunivalu.

Similar to final yr, the Fijian Drua staged a second half rally.

Ratu Rotuisolia, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Iosefo Masi scored a strive every in 20 minutes with Lomani changing all three because the Reds led 27-24 following Tom Lynagh’s penalty.

With two minutes remaining on the clock, the Fijian Drua had seven phases and had been near breaking by way of however Wallaby winger Filipo Daugunu pulled off a giant turnover which led to Reds retaining possession and kicking the ball out on the hooter.

Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi mentioned they lacked focus within the first half which price them the sport.

Derenalagi mentioned they got here out strongly within the second spell.

“We knew that the Reds would come out onerous in opposition to us,” he mentioned.

“Our boys gave every thing within the second half and performed fast ball. If we had finished that within the first half, the outcome might have been completely different.

“We’ve come away with some large studying from the match.”

The Drua will journey to Dunedin the place they face the Highlanders subsequent.