Pacific

Drua teams win but Moana crash again

10:34 am on 4 April 2023

Drua's Selestino Ravutaumada touching down against the Rebels Photo: Fiji Drua

Drua fans celebrated at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday as their teams won against the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby double-header.

The Fijiana Drua women's won 39-12 in their Super Rugby W match, before the Fijian Drua men hung on to win 38-28 in the main clash.

The latter win was the Drua's third in the competition so far.

Six tries in the first half gave the team a 33-7 lead at half-time.

Drua try scorers were Ilaisa Droasese, Selestino Ravutaumada, Vilive Miramira, Iosefo Masi, Kitione Salawa and Elia Canakaivata.

The Rebels scored three tries in the second half to Drua's one to make the score look more respectable.

Meanwhile, the Fijiana Drua continued their winning run against the Rebels.

The win meant the Inoke Male-coached side have now won two games at home.

Moana Pasifika crash

The Moana Pasifika team continues to battle for their first win in the competition this year as they were thumped 45-17 by the Highlanders in Auckland on Friday night.

Fiji-born Mosese Dawai scored a try to help Highlanders beat Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium.

Although they started strongly with the game's opening try via skipper Solomone Funaki after only five minutes and were down 17-19 at halftime, Moana Pasifika lost the plot in the second 40.

Ultimately the Moana Pasifika scrum was crushed into submission.

Moana Pasifika midfield back Danny Toala is tackled against the Highlanders in Auckland Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport

Head coach Aaron Mauger wasn't too dejected after the match, feeling some improvements had been made from the game against the Hurricanes the previous week.

"I told them to be decisive whether it's moving the ball to the backs or pick and go in the forwards or put in cross kicks," he said.

"That is a really good sign for us but the bigger issue for us was the lapses on defence."

Mauger had encouraging words for his young first-five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie.

"I was very happy for Lincoln that he stepped up this week and I thought he played very well in place of Christian Leali'fano.

"So, even from loss you celebrate the little wins and that is more growth for a good player," he said.

Moana Pasifika play the injury-wracked Crusaders in Christchurch next.