CONQUERED at home, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua were beaten 26-40 by Moana Pasifika in their round one Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The signature Western heat and the resounding turnout of fans were no match for the onslaught driven forth by the visitors when the whistle kicked off the match.
Tupou Ta’eiloa of Moana Pasifika crossed the try-line in the fifth minute with a conversion entered by Patrick Pellegrini in the sixth minute.
The Drua searched for a way through however the visitors continued with another try of theirs by captain Miracle Fai’ilagi in the 10th minute with another shot between the posts by Patrick Pellegrini.
In the 17th minute, Fai’ilagi scored another try with another kick through by Pellegrini.
The Drua answered the contest with a try by Tuidraki Samusamuvodre in the 23rd minute and a kick by Kemu Valetini.
Mesake Vocevoce copped a yellow card in the 30th minute as Tevita Ofa of Moana Pasifika crossed the try-line with a conversion by Pellegrini.
Kitione Salawa scored the Drua’s second try with a missed conversion by Valetini.
After the break, Fai’ilagi crossed for a hat trick in the 42nd minute with a missed conversion by Pellegrini.
Drua co-captain Temo Mayanavanua scored his first Super Rugby Pacific try in the 62nd minute with a conversion in by Valetini.
It was a gruelling contest for a try until the 78th minute when Ofa Tauatevalu scored Moana’s final try that brought home the win for them.
The Fijian Drua will meet the New South Wales Waratahs in their first away game at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia next Friday.
Moana Pasifika 40 (Tries: Faiilagi 3, Tupou Ta’eiloa, Ofa, Tauatevalu; Cons: Pellegrini 5) def Fijian Drua 26 (Tries: Samusamuvodre, Mayanavanua, Salawa, Droasese; Cons: Valetini 3)
Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Epeli Momo
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomila,12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Denzel Samoa, 23 Glen Vaihu
