Manasa Mataele's hattrick could not help the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua as they went down 24-45 to the Queensland Reds in their round 16 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
The Fijian Drua were in the game in the first half as they dominated the Reds upfront.
While the Drua had more carries, passes, and more offloads, unfortunately they could not convert it into points.
Mataele got the Drua on the board early after an intercept in the 12th minute to give them an early 5-0 lead.
Josh Canham replied for the Reds with the conversion giving them a 5-7 lead.
Hooker Matt Faessler got the first of his two tries after the Reds used their main attacking weapon which was their maul from the lineout.
The Reds then scored two more tries through centres Josh Flook and Filipo Daugunu to lead 21-5 at half time.
Drua prop Meli Tuni scored right after half time keeping them in the game 21-12.
Mataele got his second shortly after when he chipped the ball behind the defence and chased it down to make it 21-19.
Mataele got an assist from reserve centre Virimi Vakatawa who spotted the defence were all up placing a kick just behind them for the winger to score and put them ahead 24-21.
The Reds dominated the scrum in the Drua's 5 metre for Wallabies captain Harry Wilson to dive over from close range.
The Reds did not look back from there as they scored through Faessler, Seru Uru, and replacement hooker Richie Asiata to make it 45-24.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders thrashed the Hurricanes 47-14.
In today's matches, the Brumbies takes on Moana Pasifika at 4.35pm, the Chiefs face the Blues at 7.05pm while the Force will take on the Warratahs at 9.35pm.
