NATIONAL Rugby Championship defending champion, the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua team, has lost the title after going down to the Canberra Vikings in yesterday’s semi-final match at Viking Park, Canberra, Australia yesterday.
The Drua side went down 28-27 in the final minute.
A penalty was awarded to the Drua side in the third minute where fullback Enele Malele kicked a penalty goal.
Fiji’s Peni Naulago scored the first try of the match in the 12th minute with a successful conversion from Malele leaving Fiji in the lead at 10-0.
Vice-captain Serupepeli Vularika scored another try in the 30th minute. Seven minutes later, under-20 player Tevita Ikanivere scored another try which was converted by Malele leaving the scores in Fiji’s favour for 22-0 at halftime.
Canberra Vikings made a comeback in the second half, scoring a try two minutes into resumption.
A try scored by Vikings’ Tom Wright with a successful conversion by Ryan Lonergan leaving the Vikings behind the Drua 22-7.
Angus Allen scored the second try for Canberra Vikings with a successful conversion again by Lonergan.
The Vikings were on fire yesterday as Tom Wright scored the third try for the team and Lonergan added another two points.
Vikings closed the gap 21-22 before the Fijian Drua scored a try and mad a space in the points and another try scored by Ratunaisa Nauma with an unsuccessful conversion by Malele.
Scores stood at 27-21. Canberra Vikings, however, had the last say scoring the final try in the last minute.
The try was scored by Tomas Banks with the successful conversion which left Canberra Vikings in the lead to make it to the final of the National Rugby Championship.
They scored a one point win and dethroned the champion Fijian side with a 28-27 victory.
The Western Force team will now meet the Canberra Vikings in the final.
