Replacement centre Isikeli Rabitu broke the hearts of the Reds side as he scored a converted try at the stroke of full time to give the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua a 36-33 win in round 12 of the Shop N Save Super Rugby competition and also keep their top 6 hopes alive this afternoon.
The Drua started the game strong with an unconverted try to winger Taniela Rakuro in the 7th minute to give them a 5-0 lead before the Reds replied with a converted try in the 10th minute through fullback Jock Campbell to give the visitors a slight 7-5 lead.
The home side scored two more unconverted tries through captain Mesake Doge and Etonia Waqa in the 17th and 25th minutes respectively to extend their lead to 15-7 before the Reds came back and scored two more tries to hooker Richie Asiata and Seru Uru and one conversion to Harry McLaughlin-Philips to give them a 19-15 lead heading into halftime.
The Drua started the second half well with a converted try to Mesake Vocevoce in the 41st minute and Isoa Tuwai in the 56th minute to give them a 29-19 lead.
The visitors managed to find their rhythm and came back to score two converted tries in the 61st minute and 71st minute through replacement prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen to give the Reds a 33-29 lead.
Rabitu saved the day for the Drua to score the winning converted try at the stroke of full time to break the hearts of the visitors.
The Drua now turn their focus to next week when they take on the Blues at the HFC Bank Stadium again in round 13.
FT: DRU 36-33 REDS
79' Try to Drua. Isikeli Rabitu. DRU 36-33 REDS
71' Try to Reds. Jeff Toomaga-Allen. DRU 29-33 RED
70' Drua's defence holding as the Reds try to get over the try line. DRU 29-26 REDS
60' Try to Reds. Jeff Toomaga-Allen. DRU 29-26 REDS
54' Try to Drua. Isoa Tuwai. DRU 29-19 REDS
49' Reds loses the ball inside the Drua's 22m line. Drua's defence hold strong. DRU 22-19 REDS
47' Replacements coming into the field for both teams. DRU 22-19 REDS
41' Try to Drua. Mesake Vocemoce. DRU 22-19 REDS
Kick off: Drua
HT: DRU 15-19 REDS
34' Try to Reds. Seru Uru, DRU 15-19 REDS
28' Try to Reds. Richie Asiata. DRU 15-14 REDS
25' Try to Drua. Etonia Waqa. DRU 15-7 REDS
20' Drua gets a scrum inside Reds territory. Another chance to put points on the scoreboard. DRU 10-7 REDS
16' Try to Drua. Mesake Doge. What a break from Etonia Waqa. DRU 10-7 REDS
13' The Drua gets lucky as a cross kick by the Reds, results in a knock-on. Drua gets a scrum. Drua gets another penalty for not releasing. DRU 5-7 REDS
10' Try to Reds. Jock Campbell. DRU 5-7 REDS.
7' Try to Drua. Taniela Rakuro. Drua 5-0 REDS. waiting for conversion, conversion missed from Valetini
2' Great defence from the Drua as they hold the Reds attack. Valetini clears the ball away from the Drua's 22m. DRU 0-0 REDS
Drua vs Reds Updates 1st Half Kick-off: Reds
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
