The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua's hopes of making the playoffs of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition are still alive after defeating the Reds 28-19 at the HFC Bank Stadium this afternoon.
The home side had the backing of a very vocal crowd and also was extraordinary in their defence that helped them claim the much-needed win today.
The Drua took an early 7-0 lead after they were awarded a penalty try following a foul play by Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu that prevented flanker Kitione Salawa from scoring a clear try from a clean line break.
The Reds were reduced to 14 men after Vunivalu was yellow carded for that infringement.
The Drua continued their onslaught and scored another try 3 minutes later to captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere with the conversion unsuccessful to extend their lead to 12-0.
The strength from @Fijian_Drua's Tevita Ikanivere is unreal! 💪#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/j73xzeTMZ5
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 18, 2024
The Reds replied in the 10th minute with a converted try in the corner to trail 12-7.
In the 12th minute, the Drua extended their lead to 15-7 after Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula converted a penalty kick at goal.
The visitors scored their second converted try in the 24th minute to close the gap to 15-14.
The step from Ravutaumada in the build-up to this @Fijian_Drua try 😮💨#DRUvRED #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/svyfPce2GL
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 18, 2024
At the stroke of halftime, the Drua extended their lead to 18-14 after reserve back Kemueli Valetini, who came in for centre Waqa Nalaga due to injury, converted a penalty kick at goal.
The Drua started the second half strongly as captain Ikanivere scoring his second try of the match in the 45th minute with Ravula adding the extra 2 points to extend their lead to 25-14.
The Reds were reduced to 14 men again after winger Vunivalu was shown a red card following his second yellow card of the match for the same foul play he committed in the first half.
It took the visitors 35 minutes of the second half to score a try which was unconverted to trail the Drua 25-19.
Ravula put the final nail in the coffin for the Drua by converting a penalty kick at the stroke of full-time to claim the win.
Match Updates: by Alipate Narawa
The Drua perfom the iBole for their second last home game of the season
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula kicks things off
2" Lawson Creighton overcooks that kicking it full out
3" Salawa fumbles the ball on, ref checking on trip by Reds winger
Yellow Card!!
Suliasi Vunivalu is out for 10 minute and the Drua are awarded a penalty try
DRU 7-0 RED
6" Drua throw in 27 metres from Reds line
TRY!!
Ikanivere busts through the defence after a few patient phases from the team
DRU 12-0 RED conversion unsuccessful
10" Reds keen to get their hands on the ball, so they can eat up the time till Vunivalu gets back on
11" Ref playing advantage to Reds, cross kick to Floyd Aubrey
DRU 12-7 RED
13" Penalty to Drua, Reds not releasing
Ikanivere points at the posts
DRU 15-7 RED
16" Druas scrum
17" Penalty to the Drua, Reds angling at the scrum
18" Reds scrum after forward pass from Ravutaumada
19 Free kick to Drua
They opt for a scrum
Reds TRY!!
23" Lawson Creighton slips through the defence and straight under the sticks
DRU 15-14 RED
1 minute water break
26" Drua steal the lineout, run it a few phases before knocking it on
28" Drua throw in
31" Penalty to the Reds, Nasilasila off his feet
34" Free kick to the Reds
35" A lot of scrambling around but scrum to Reds after Kuruvoli fumbles at the base of the ruck
Kemu Valetini kicking from 52 metres out
Valetini stretches the lead for the Drua with a penalty conversion
Half-time
DRU 18-14 RED
Reds kickoff the 2nd half
41" Armstrong-Ravula boots it into touch safely from inside his 22
43" Reds get advantage inside Drua 22 metre
44" Lineout stolen by the Drua before Valetini boots it to halfway
TRY!!
TRY stands for Ikanivere while Vunivalu gets another YELLOW CARD!!
Which means it is now a RED CARD
DRU 25-14 RED
51" Penalty against Kuruvoli
Reds down to 14 men for the next 16 minutes
52" Drua get out of jail after the Reds knock it on 5 metres from Drua try line
53" Throw not straight by Reds, Drua have been stealing the Reds throws all game
50-22 for the Reds
Ball stolen again by the Drua, Seru Uru penalised
55" Reds penalty, Ravutaumada offside
56" Reds on Drua 5 metre, ref playing advantage
58" Drua get warned by the ref
59" Drua get out of jail by turning the ball over
63" Penalty to the Drua, Reds illegal wheeling at the scrum
67" Penalty to Reds, now Drua get it back
71" Reds go into rolling maul from lineout before Ravutaumada bundles the Reds hooker into touch
75" Valetini boots it into touch
Reds penalty, Drua player off their feet
TRY!! George Blake gets it in
DRU 25-19 RED, conversion unsuccessful
78" Drua win the penalty
Minute and a half to go, Drua opt for the posts
Advantage to Drua
Armstrong-Ravula converts!!
28-19
The Drua have done it, playoffs still within reach
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