Stoked was how Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Glen Jackson articulated his side’s 36-33 win over the Queensland Reds in round 12 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition in Suva yesterday.
It’s Jackson’s first victory in Suva and he relayed his elation at the team’s dynamic performance on the field.
“I’m just stoked for the boys, I know there’s a fair bit going on around our season and (I’m) just so happy,” Jackson said.
“I think the boys played really well like for most of the game, they showed how good we are in terms of our attack and then defensively when we got up and stopped them; it was very good.”
During the 80-minute thriller, the Drua drew first blood with an unconverted try from Taniela Rakuro in the seventh minute.
The Reds responded with a converted try in the 10th minute.
Captain Mesake Doge added another try in the 15th minute, followed by Mesake Vocevoce in the 25th minute.
The Reds placed another two tries before the break where points stood at 19-15 with the visitors in the lead.
Following the breather, Mesake Vocevoce scored a converted try for the Drua as scores advanced in the 42nd minute of play.
With a steady lead, the Drua sought to place another try as Vuate Karawalevu kicked the ball towards the Reds try-line and engaged in a kick-and-chase however the ball went past the line by the time he reached it.
That near miss was redeemed by Isoa Tuwai in the 55th minute with a converted try. The visitors saw an opportunity in the 61st minute with a converted try that elevated the scoreboard to 29-26.
As the match was nearing its end, the Reds scored a converted try that saw them take the lead at 33-29.
The Drua were elevated their spirit of defiance with toughened set pieces and robust flair infused in their pursuit of victory at the match’s dying moments.
Isikeli Rabitu then switched the match’s path for victory as the win swung in favour of the Drua.
