It has been a heartbreaking defeat for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua after a 35-34 loss to the Chiefs at a sell out crowd at Churchill Park in Lautoka this afternoon.
The Fijian Drua fought till the end and scored some of the best tries in the competition this season.
Four tries were scored by the Drua and three of those tries came in the last fifteen minutes of the match.
Centre Apisalome Vota scored a double while his midfield partner Kalaveti Ravouvou also scored a try.
Prop Timoci Sauvoli broke the Chiefs defensive line and beat every one to the try line near the 22 metre line.
The other points came from the boot of flyhalf Teti Tela.
The Chiefs led 21-7 at half time.
This was one of two home games in Fiji this season.
The Drua also lost to the Highlanders 27-24 in Suva in April.
In their inaugural season, the Drua managed to get two wins which is an impressive feat when compared to some teams that have had a miserable start in the competition.
They defeated the Rebels 31-26 and beat Moana Pasifika 34-19 this season.
Drua captain Nemani Nagusa has thanked all their fans for their support throughout the season.
Chiefs captain Brad Weber says some of the tries the Drua scored were unbelievable.
Weber says this is going to be a tough place to play the Drua.
Apisalome Vota was player of the match.
Chiefs Fiji-born wing Emoni Narawa scored two tries in the match.
Chiefs prop Angus Ta'avao breaks the Fijian
Drua defence near the 22 metre line. He makes a good run through and scores at
Churchill Park. The Chiefs lead 7-nil after the conversion goes through. |
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| Another one for the Chiefs. This time it is their flyhalf Bryn Gatland who crosses over to extend their lead. Chiefs completing their phases and keeping a lot of the action near the Drua 22 metre line. Chiefs lead 14-nil after Gatland slots the conversion through. | ||
| Apisalome Vota crosses over for the Fijian Drua's first try. The initial break was by Drua winger Ilaisa Droasese who made an offload that connected with the boot of one of the Drua players and from that kick, the chase was made by Vota. He picked up the ball and avoided several Chiefs players before he touched the ball down. The Chiefs lead 14-7 after the conversion from Teti Tela. |
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| Chiefs Fiji-born winger Emoni Narawa crosses over for a try at home. That is Narawa's fifth Super Rugby try. A bus load of people from Narawa's village are here to support him at Churchill Park. The conversion goes through. Chiefs lead the Drua 21-7. | ||
| Successful penalty goal from Teti Tela | ||
| Emoni Narawa gets his second try of the match. | ||
| Penalty Try to the Chiefs | ||
| Kalaveti Ravouvou scores a stunning try! | ||
| Apisalome Vota scores for the Drua! | ||
| Sensational try by Timoci Sauvoli! | ||
| Chiefs win! |
A group of people have come from Nadroumai Village in Nadroga to support Swire Shipping Fijian Drua centre Kalaveti Ravouvou against the Chiefs in their Super Rugby Pacific clash at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
His mother Luisa Ravouvou says Ravouvou paid for the bus that brought them to the stadium.
They left the village at 9am today.
She says Ravouvou is the youngest of three children.
Thousands of people are already inside the stadium while many are still lining up at the gates.
People have climbed trees near the stadium to get a glimpse of the action.
Sharneet Kumar from Lautoka says he hopes the Drua win and he has come to support his favourite player Teti Tela.
Communications Fiji Limited radio personalities such as Viti FM’s Ouch Mama and Drix and Bunene of FM96 Crackfast will be hyping up the crowd at Churchill Park.
This is the first-ever Super Rugby game being held in the West.
Fijian Drua Head of Commercial and Marketing Shane Hussein says the event will not only be for those rugby lovers but a day-out for families.
He says fans will also enjoy performances from The Gang featuring Billy T and Ratu.
They will perform hits songs like Taqanika, Marama, Saiva Ciwa and Yalayala.
Hussein says fans will also be celebrating the achievements of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua who won the Super W competition in April.
The Drua will meet the Chiefs at 3pm today at Churchill Park.
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