OUR Fiji Airways Fiji Drua have booked a semi final berth after beating Western Force 33-26 in the Australian NRC competition at UWA Park in Perth, Australia.
The victory earns them the Horan-Little Shield as well as a spot on top of the table and a home final if they win their semi final match.
The Fiji Drua trailed 7-14 at half time but regrouped and fought back in the second half to clinch the win.
The Force’s tries came from “Rocket’ Rod Davies in the third minute and Rodney Iona in the 9th minute. Both tries were converted by Ian Prior.
Fiji’s lone try in the first half was scored by winger Levani Kurumudu, which was converted by Enele Malele.
In the second half, Aporosa Tabulawaki equalised the points for Fiji in the 48th minute with a try and Malele made no mistake with the conversion.
Malele crossed over for a try in the 56th minute and left the field soon after replaced by Apisalome Waqatabu. Malele’s try was converted by Alivereti Veitokani.
‘Rocket’ Rod replied with his second try in the match only four minutes later, proving too fast for the Fijians.
Apisalome Vota crossed over for another Fijian try in the 64th minute but Waqatabu missed the conversion, having the distance but not the direction.
Veitokani followed with Fiji’s fifth try five minutes later. This time Waqatabu was accurate with his conversion attempt.
Andrew Deegan had the last say in the game scoring the Force’s fourth try at full time.
He converted but the Fijians were smiling with relief that the game was over.
The 2018 Horan-Little Shield is coming to Fiji.
Results:
Fiji Airways Drua 33-28 Western Force
Try scorers:
Western Force : Davies (2), Iona, Deegan
Fiji Airways Drua: Kurumudu, Tabulawaki, Malele, Vota, Veitokani
