At AAMI Park, Melbourne: Moana Pasifika 39 (Sione Mafileo 12min, Lotu Inisi 41min, Henry Taefu 41min, Sam Moli 54min, Abraham Pole 57min tries; William Havili 4 con, pen. Christian Lea’alifano pen). Fijian Drua 36 (Elia Canakaivata 16min, Selestino Ravutaumada 48min, Elia Canakaivata 61min, Epeli Momo 72min, Ilisia Junior Ratuva 75 min; Isaiah Ravula 4 con, pen). HT: 15-8
Yellow card: Selestino Ravutaumada (Drua) 38min, Sekope Kepu (Moana Pasifika) 68 min. Red card: Nigel Ah Wong (Moana Pasifika) 55min.
A wild carnival of rugby erupted in Melbourne tonight, and when the dust settled it was Moana Pasifika who celebrated a historic 39-36 win over the Fijian Drua in their Super Pacific Rugby match at AAMI Stadium.
The spectators who turned-up for the “Super Round” had plenty to discuss as they soaked up the sun in the bleachers – this was a game that shouldn’t be forgotten in a hurry.
A red card, two yellow cards, tries from all points of the field and a frantic finish that ended with the men from Moana Pasifika celebrating their first victory over the Drua, after four earlier attempts.
This was an extremely satisfying way for Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga to mark just his second game in charge, while the Drua’s Mick Byrne was left lamenting missed opportunities and his side’s questionable option-taking at key moments.
With his dreadlocks and headband, Fijian Drua wing Selestino Ravutaumada wouldn’t look out of place in a rock band, smashing away on a six-string guitar while banging out his tunes.
He almost turned the game around, but, in the final analysis, not even he could spin the result to favour his team.
Ravutaumada did his bit to entertain during this fixture, playing the role of hero and villain with equal measure.
His decision to thrust out a foot out and trip-up Danny Toala late in the first half reduced the Drua’s numbers in the defensive line, and for Moana Pasifika that was like pouring water on a sun-drenched plant as they scored two tries while he sat on the sideline.
A five-pointer by Lotu Inisi bang on the halftime hooter ensured Moana Pasifika retreated for the halftime talk by coach Tana Umaga with their confidence levels cranked up a couple of notches.
And it went up a few more immediately after the break when Henry Taefu added another try, his side’s third of the afternoon and that gave everyone at the venue every reason to twist in their seats and ask their neighbours whether they were able to witness a boilover result.
Then Ravutaumada re-entered the action.
Having boosted his team back to their full quota Ravutaumada was called to arms. He delivered. Having steamed on to an inside ball after the Drua won a lineout 20m from the tryline, he shredded four tackles to score a cracker.
Yet, for all that, Moana Pasifika displayed the character and determination that may have been lacking in previous seasons.
Rather than panic they returned fire. Even with Nigel Ah Wong sent to the sin bin for a high tackle (which was later up-graded to red), he collected Drua centre Iosefo Masi in the head with a shoulder in a clumsy tackle, Moana Pasifika remained determined to make their opponents’ skin blister with their red-hot attack.
Moana Pasifika stretched their lead with tries to Sam Moli and Abraham Pole, putting them up 36-15 with less than 20 minutes remaining, before everything went crazy.
The Drua started to gobble up the gap between the sides on the scoreboard, beginning with a try from a quick tap by Elia Canakaivata, his second of the game, and when replacement prop Sekope Kepu was told to take a seat on the Moana Pasifika naughty chair – yes, a yellow card – the team in blue were reduced to 13 men.
What followed was a frenzy of free-wheeling rugby as the Drua threw everything at the opposition, resulting in tries to Epeli Momo and Ileisa Junior Ratuva.
With a penalty awarded to them a minute before fulltime, the Drua had the chance to kick three points to level the scores and force the game into extra-time, but instead elected to run the ball.
They blew it. Moana Pasifika deserved this victory.
