The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua have once again defended their home turf against the defending champions, the Crusaders after a 20-10 win in Lautoka this afternoon.
The Crusaders made a strong start taking a 10-0 lead after a successful penalty kick at goal by the young flyhalf Taha Kemara followed by a converted try to Sevu Reece.
The Drua bounced back and locked the score at 10-all through a penalty to Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and a converted try to Selestino Ravutaumada.
Crusaders had the chance to take the lead before the break but Kemara missed a penalty kick.
The teams were locked at 10-all at the break.
The Drua started the second spell strongly with a try to halfback Frank Lomani and this was converted by Ravula to take a 17-10 lead.
Ravula put the final nail to the coffin after a successful penalty kick in the last 5 minutes for the win.
THE DRUA DO IT AGAIN 🤯#SuperRugbyPacific #DRUvCRU pic.twitter.com/IUBD2JMlWS
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 9, 2024
This is the first time since 1996 where the Crusaders have lost their first 3 games in a row.
Live update
Game about to start as both teams are making their way out of their dressing rooms
5 players with Fijian links in the run on side for the Crusaders
That is Sevu Reece, Chay Fihaki, Levi Aumua, Manasa Mataele, and Jone Rova on the bench
Both sides hoping to get a win for their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season after losing their first two rounds
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua perfoming the i Bole
Performing
Ravutaumada recieves, taken down close to halfway
Knock on Crusaders, Drua ball
Lomani feeds
Quinten Strange steals from the scrum, Crusaders penalty
5" Drua ball, throw not straight
Drua call for a scrum
Derenalagi peels from the scrum, passes to Ravutaumada
Crusaders with the ball
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula makes a. Reak through the Crusaders defence but eventually called back for a penalty
Drua retain their lineout
Ikanivere gaining a couple of metres Pate is typing
Drua building phases
Knock on after 12 phases, Crusaders clear it
12" Advantage to Crusaders, Drua offside.
13" Crusaders 3-0 Drua
15" scrum to the Crusaders after a forward pass from Droasese
"16 penalty to Crusaders in front of the sticks
Crusaders turn down the 3 points as they fo for the side
"18 TRY!!
Sevu Reece dances his way through the Drua defence to touch down under the sticks
20" Crusaders 10-0 Drua
21" Ikanivere breaks through but his pass is knocked on by the support
22" Drua win a scrum penalty
"28 Drua get penalized.
30" Penalty to the Drua, Ikanivere throws...stolen by the Crusaders
Armstrong-Ravula boots it into touch
TRY!!
33" Selestino Ravutaumada dots down in the corner after shrugging off Fihaki's tackle
Drua 8-10 Crusaders
Conversion successful with the scores tied 10-10
38" Crusader looking for a 50-22 but it goes full out
Drua throw at halfway
39" Penalty to Crusaders
Throw in on Drua 22 metre
42 minutes Drua scrum crusaders knocks the ball on
TRY!!
Frank Lomani scrambles through to touch down
After 10 phases
17 -10 in favour of Drua conversition succesful
47 Counter rack Drua attacking again
48 Drua knocks the ball on scrum to Crusaders
49 Doge replaces Jone Koroiduadua
Levi Aumua out, Jone Rova in for his debut
53" Mistake by Crusaders after kicking the ball out in the full
57" Scrum penalty to Crusaders, booted out just before the 10 metre line
59" Crusaders deliberately knock the ball on but ref says otherwise
60" Drua give away a penalty on the Crusaders 8 metre line
62" Good counter rocking from the Drua on this game but penalized for trying to kick the ball through
63" Drua scrum
65" Scrum penalty to Drua
Armstrong-Ravula kicks to touch
66" Yellow Card should be shown to Crusaders for their second deliberate knock down of the ball
Scrum to Drua
Dolokoto in for Ikanivere
69" Scrum to Drua after Crusaders knock on the ball
71" Drua Scrum after Crusaders forward pass
Crusaders have 7 handling errors to the Drua's 5
75" Drua on the charge get a penalty
Opting for the 3 points
Opting for the 3 points
Armstrong- Ravula Converts!!
Drua 20-10 Crusaders
78" Could it be a repeat of last year's result with the Drua winning again at Home?
Drua playing down the clock
30 seconds to go!!
Drua wins AGAIN!!
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