The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua replacement fly-half Kemueli Valetini has done it again with his kicking boots as he kicked the Drua to a famous 27-24 victory over a star-studded Hurricanes side.
The Drua started the game well with a try to winger Taniela Rakuro with Frank Lomani adding the extras for a 7-0 lead.
The Hurricanes replied with an unconverted try to Julian Savea as the game went into half-time with the Drua holding a 7-5 lead.
The Hurricanes started the second spell strongly with Savea scoring his second try before Rakuro replied with his second try as well.
The Hurricanes took the lead later in the first quarter of the second spell with two more converted tries before Meli Derenalagi crashed over for Drua’s third try.
Valetini nailed a penalty kick later in the 75th minute to lock the scores at 24-all before the Canes were penalised again in the 78th minute which was capitalised by Valetini to convert the winning penalty.
Match Report
80' THE DRUA HAVE DONE IT! They held it out the scrum, working across to the right edge, where Miramira made a good bust away 30m from the line. The penalty advantage came as time seemed to expire, so Matawalu went out the back for the home side to put it into touch, sparking a field invasion from the wider squad members! Time wasn't quite up though, so they were sent back off, before Valetini tapped and hammered into touch to firmly bring this one to a close!
80' And a reset! That will favour the home side. If they can get it out the scrum, the game is theirs!
79' The home side are nearly there! The Canes get up to secure the restart, but they quickly undo their good work, with a poor pass from Booth being spilt by Mafileo. Drua scrum with around 50 seconds on the clock...
79' THE DRUA HIT THE FRONT! Valetini ices it from the left touchline, curling it over to push his side in front with 90 seconds to play!
77' CHAOS IN SUVA! WALKER-LEAWERE DEPARTS FOR A SECOND YELLOW! Derenalagi flew past halfway, before flinging a hopeful offload away to the right. The home side set it nicely, before going through the hands across to the left. The skill level was superb, as it came across into the hands of Masi on halfway, who drove into the 22. The Canes were caught all over the show, so Walker-Leawere cynically got himself offside, giving the referee no choice but to produce his second yellow card, meaning the red card is produced! Valetini will have the shot from the left touchline...
77' The Drua work a couple of good phases to allow Matawalu good field position for a box kick, but he seemed to skew it, though Derenalagi flew through to collect it just north of the 10m line!
76' WE'RE ALL LOCKED UP! Valetini slots it as cool as you like to level the score!
75' PENALTY DRUA! THE CROWD GOES WILD! Pats on the back for the front rowers, and they are going to take the shot! Not at all an easy kick this, probably 45m on the angle, about 5m in from the right touchline.
74' Good pressure both ways at the scrum, and it screws on itself. We will set again.
72' Away to the right go the home side, though it was fairly loose out the back. Masi had to go back to mop up, but he sized things up well, slipping the tackle of Booth before angling away to the right! He had Sau unmarked, but the winger just spilt the offload! The Canes get off the hook big time. They'll feed a scrum on the 10m line.
72' Good interchange to the right from the Canes, putting Moorby into contact 30m from the line. They failed to make it count though, as Procter spilt in a huge tackle! Here come the Drua!
71' Derenalagi scoots away to the right off the scrum. just about taking it to halfway. A good hit on him just forced the ball free though, giving the Hurricanes the scrum on the half.
70' Flat and hard on the crash ball go the Canes, but, 'The Bus' left it behind! Drua scrum on the 10m line.
69' The Drua defend the maul much better this time, wrapping up Devery! Tamani looked to drive through for a turnover, but he just spilt the ball on the way through. Canes scrum 35m out from the line.
68' The Canes effectively work a rolling maul into a penalty, getting an easy march ahead with a kick to touch just north of the 10m line.
67' WHAT A PASSAGE OF PLAY! Morgan kicked downfield on the counterattack, just seeing it scooped up by Droasese inside his own end. He looked to charge back, but the ball slipped out of his hands! The Canes crashed at the 22m line, but the defence just about held. This forced the visitors right, where Rayasi spilt! Ravouvou scooped up and put it one the toe, with Rakuro flying after it! Barrett just about got across though, seeing it roll into touch just outside the 22.
65' Sloppy off the lineout for the Drua, though crucially they kept hold of it, even if they were forced back into their own half. Miramira bought back the metres with a good carry, before a penalty came for not releasing. Matawalu tapped and went, but his pass right for Natave was spilt!
64' An advantage comes almost instantly for angling in at the scrum, so the Drua go to the skies with a midfield bomb. Just a touch far though, so the penalty is called. Touch found just short of the opposite 10m line.
62' Ravouvou sneaks past Barrett in midfield, before the Drua looked further right. Natave just spilt though, with the Canes countering down the left. Naholo put a grubber in behind, but it just rolled too far! Drua scrum on the right edge of the 10m line.
62' Walker-Leawere fails to collect the kickoff, spilling over the tail for Ikanivere. He looked to put it on the toe, but skewed it out to Moorby. No advantage though says the referee, so the Drua will feed a scrum just back of the 10m line.
61' Matawalu exits straight off the restart, putting it into touch about 35m off his own line.
Ravutaumada has hurt himself after looking to get up to win the kickoff. Seemingly it is a concussion, as the medicart prepares to take him away.
60' Valetini drives it over from just right of the sticks.
59' THE DRUA AREN'T GOING TO GO AWAY EASILY! Naholo worked the kickoff just away from the 22 this time, before the Canes recycled nicely. Booth went to the box, seeing it claimed on the 10m line by Matawalu. He spun through a couple of tackles, before linking Ikanivere into the 22! He charged hard, offloading right for Derenalagi who strode over down the edge!
57' THE CANES PUSH AHEAD! Aumua went to the drive again, though this time strong defence forced him to splinter away. He shifted to Sangster who was stopped just a metre away, but Kirifi was there to follow up, driving over under the sticks with good low body position.
55' Walker-Leawere takes it in, with the Canes rolling into a drive! The Drua didn't defend it well, and ended up dragging it down. The penalty comes, so Barrett goes to the corner again.
54' Sangster pinches the lineout, driving ahead solidly before the Canes worked left through Moorby. They sent it back infield with good direction, eventually drawing a penalty for a player being offside. Barrett finds touch 10m from the line.
The crowd is really getting into it. They're certainly unhappy about that try being awarded.
53' Naholo is again nailed by Ravutaumada off the kickoff, though Roigard got the long box kick away into touch on the 10m line. Lomani returned from a quick throw, being well stopped on the opposite 10m line. It became messy though, as the Canes attacked the breakdown, winning the turnover! Morgan fired a grubber away, finding touch just north of the 10m line.
51' NUMIA DRIVES OVER! Good body position from the loosehead prop, and he drives over just right of the posts. Questionable on the grounding, but the TMO is happy with it.
50' Julian Savea runs the crash ball through midfield, setting a good platform for Moorby to attack back to the right. He danced nicely to the 5m line, only just being stopped. The forwards have rolled into action though, and are threatening on the 5m line.
49' Huge scrum from the Canes, and they win the penalty. Destructive stuff as Barrett puts it into touch just inside the 22.
48' Lomani is the man to exit off the restart, going long down to Moorby from the box. He did well to hold under pressure, though it worked nicely as Roigard quickly got it out, with the Drua over-committed. Savea spilt a pass at his ankles though, giving the Drua the scrum on halfway.
46' WOW! TERRIFIC FROM THE DRUA! They worked out the scrum, phasing patiently in midfield to set play 15m away from the line. Lomani bounced left, finding Masi running flat. He half beat a tackle, floating a hanger of a miracle offload for Rakuro, who claimed above his head before striding over in the corner!
45' Great chase from the Drua, and they secure the kickoff! It was batted back into the hands of Tamani, who charged into the 22. Quick recycle followed, though it gave Sangster a chance to turnover. He spilt though, giving the scrum advantage. Nothing was to come of it, so the scrum is called. Drua ball, 22m out on the left edge.
43' THE CANES MAKE IT COUNT! Aumua lobbed it in for a maul, which bought about 10m before Procter straightened it up in front of the posts. Quick recycle followed, with Moorby holding it up for Savea on the edge, who chopped back infield to finish off in simple fashion.
42' A 50/22 from Flanders! Ravutaumada bust up the centre off the lineout, before the Drua chopped back against the grain for Ikanivere. He was loose in the carry though, spilling in looking to offload. Flanders picked it ip, hacking ahead where it rolled away into touch just inside the 22!
41' Tela gets us back underway with a long kick down to Naholo, who was met in a stiff tackle by Ravutaumada. The Canes did very well to hold the ball, setting the platform for Roigard to box kick into touch past the 10m line.
An enterprising half of footy has come to an end, and somehow we have only seen two tries, with the Drua holding a slender 7-5 lead. The home side had the better of the play, dominating territory, but they couldn't make it count on the scoreboard. The Hurricanes have struggled in the heat, though to their credit, have battled hard on defence. With ball in hand, they've been guilty of being a little bit slow and laboured, and could benefit from working some phase play through their forwards. The Drua have done that side of things well, but have lacked accuracy when looking for the killer blow. They look the more likely to go on to secure the victory at the moment.
40' Derenalagi takes play back towards the 22, being nicely chopped down. The Drua quickly went out back to the left though, but Savea was on hand to intercept. The Canes quickly worked towards halfway, before lumping a big kick downfield to Droasese. He looked to fire across to Ravutaumada, but it founds grass! He then spilt, with Naholo flying through! He got his boot to it, but it deflected unfavourably, seeing it fly dead as the halftime hooter sounded.
38' ROIGARD STOPS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE TRIES OF THE SEASON! Lomani sniped short side off the scrum, stepping past Naholo before speeding past halfway. He linked with Ravutaumada who flew into the 22, before linking back to Lomani! He looked certain to score, but Roigard dragged him down on the 5m line, before forcing him to knock on as he looked to reach out! We'll have a line dropout to resume.
37' Savea scoots away left, hitting Moorby on the outside left shoulder to take play 30m out. Roigard recycled quickly for Flanders, who took play into the 22. Roigard looked to run left a couple of phases later, but Canakaivata dove across and forced a knock on out of his hands! Drua scrum 30m off their own line.
36' The Canes edge forwards, before Roigard went to the box kick, finding Ravutaumada who returned nicely to the 10m line. The Drua looked to quickly shift left, but a loose ball was spilt by Droasese. Canes feed 40m out in midfield.
34' The Drua claimed the lineout uncontested, but go jumpers in front of the receiver, in setting a maul, so were pinged for obstruction. Barrett finds touch 30m off his own line.
33' Walker-Leawere looked to steal the lineout, but he was pinged for jumping across! Repeated infringements and he gets yellow carded! To the corner again.
32' That is a coach killer! Naholo spills the kickoff, before Numia picks it up in an offside position! Tela pops it into touch for a lineout 10m from the line.
30' THE BUS STROLLS OVER! Naholo took contact from a backdoor play in midfield, sucking in the majority of the Drua's defence. Roigard recycled nicely, with Moorby running a good angle to the right edge before putting Savea away in the corner!
29' Now there is a free kick the way of the Hurricanes! It is not exactly clear why, but that's a fair let-off. The Canes call for a scrum.
28' NOT STRAIGHT! Big let off for the Drua, who will now pack a 5m scrum.
27' The Canes look to drive, but it was well-defended, so Aumua splintered away to the short side. Sangster followed up, though was absolutely nailed, but that forced a breakdown penalty, as one of the Drua players failed to roll! Into the corner goes Barrett...
26' Sangster claims the lineout, allowing the Hurricanes to maul. They worked to the 10m line, where Roigard put up the box kick, which forced a penalty as Barrett was obstructed in his run through. He sends a good kick away 15m from the line.
24' HETET SCYTHES THROUGH! Off a short lineout the Drua settled in midfield, before their big prop ran off a pod, slipping a tackle to fly into the 22! The Drua had big numbers left, but Ardie Savea spoiled the party! Moorby scrapped a clearance away after Barrett nearly spilt, but it was not into touch, allowing Droasese to run it back. Savea was pinged at the breakdown this time, so Lomani tapped and went, sending Ravouvou away into the 22. Again though, the Canes just hing on, winning a relieving ruck penalty. Barrett finds touch just outside the 22.
23' Tela finally takes the penalty, popping it into touch just past halfway.
22' After advancing towards the 10m line, Roigard looks to the box kick, just sending it a touch far for Droasese. He looked to get away from Naholo, and in doing so, he was just taken high. No advantage was to come, so the penalty goes the way of the hosts.
21' Lomani hooks it well away to the left, so the Canes get off the hook. Morgan has quickly taken the 22m restart, working it a solid 10m ahead.
20' Salawa runs the restart back, taking it out of the 22. The Drua phased nicely to set the platform for Lomani, who sent a box kick high and long downfield. Moorby claimed, but he was NAILED by Ravutaumada! Morgan looked to help out, but he sealed it off! Penalty to the home side, and from 42m out in front, Lomani will have a shot.
18' THE CROWD GOES WILD! RAKURO OPENS THE SCORING! The ball spat out the scrum, so the Canes squeezed in, allowing Lomani to fire short side for Rakuro. He had to chop back in 10m out, but the visitors were all over the show, allowing some good leg drive and support to push him over the line!
16' The home side go left, looking to bust over through Ikanivere. Nasilasila looked to follow up, but he was stopped just short, with the ball then deemed unplayable. We'll play a 5m scrum for the home side.
15' The Canes look to pinch the lineout, but it just fell for Lomani, who was taken round the neck! The advantage came, so Tela looked to poke a grubber in behind. Morgan did well to cover it, but the danger is not over! There was also an offside advantage in front of the posts, so the home side will go to the tap!
14' Plenty of promise in the Drua attack, but Savea stole it at the breakdown! The Canes were out on their feet though, and a tired clearance from Barrett flew out on the full! It had been carried back, so the Drua will feed a lineout just inside the 22.
13' It is a real mess off the lineout, but Canakaivata secured possesion, before Miramira worked in midfield. The Drua shovelled further left for Rakuro, who settled to the 10m line with a searching infield run. This opened up the blindside, where Ikanivere carried into the 22!
11' Big shove from the Drua, but Roigard gets it away, firing to Savea on the crash ball line. Quick recycle came away to the left, but Procter's ball was in front of Naholo, and he couldn't hold the pass! Spilt into touch, and with the options, the home side call for the scrum.
8' Droasese collects on halfway, angling away to settle play down 30m from the line. Lomani looked left, but saw it intercepted by Julian Savea! He linked up with Procter, who thumped downtown, forcing the Drua back into their own 22! The home side scrambled well, bombing away to Morgan just past halfway. He looked to spark, but his pass right to Julian Savea was knocked on! Drua scrum just north of the 10m line.
7' Lomani snipes away to the right, seemingly getting the ball stuck under his foot! Ravutaumada toed ahead though, with Barrett being forced into a running race, just about forcing the line dropout.
5' Canakaivata winds up to return the 22 restart, meeting solid contact on his own 10m line. This gave the Drua a good base, before they shifted it right, using good depth to put Ravutaumada into a hole! He strode downfield, through the 10m line before being chopped down. The Drua recycled well, but the Canes mustered up in defence, eventually forcing Ravutaumada into touch a couple of phases further on. Canes lineout 30m off their own line.
2' Lomani gets it out the scrum quickly, working short side initially before Nasilasila bust up the centre. Lomani looked to work it away, but Walker-Leawere was in the road, and got in the way of the pass. An easy offside penalty, and from a handy spot, Tela will look to the posts.
1' Salawa claims a deep restart, and he immediately carries strongly out of the 22. Nasilasila followed, before the Drua shaped to clear, before switching play left! They put Rakuro on the outside, and without much on he chipped in behind. Moorby claimed just outside the 22, inking Naholo up towards the 10. The visitors chopped back right, but Flanders knocked on! Drua scrum 35m out from the line.
Fijian Drua vs Hurricanes kicks off.
This is an equally big game for the Hurricanes. They currently sit in third, though their run home is not at all kind, with the Chiefs, Blues and Crusaders in consecutive weeks to round out their regular season. They're assured for finals football, but they want a home quarter-final. A win today would be a massive step towards that, but it won't be easy. A good start will be key, because the Drua will fly home late in their home conditions. In his 150th, expect Julian Savea to be hunting the white line, likewise Kini Naholo in his nation of birth.
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