{"id":18412,"date":"2023-02-28T14:26:23","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T01:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=18412"},"modified":"2023-02-28T14:26:23","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T01:26:23","slug":"fijian-drua-edge-out-moana-pasifika-in-thriller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2023\/02\/28\/fijian-drua-edge-out-moana-pasifika-in-thriller\/","title":{"rendered":"FIJIAN DRUA EDGE OUT MOANA PASIFIKA IN THRILLER"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The Fijian Drua have had the last say in a match which provided 11 tries to edge Moana Pasifika 36-34 on the opening weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific season.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Drua trailed 19-5 in the first half and did not lead until the 77th minute, when replacement winger Taniela Rakuro scored the try that gave them a thrilling win.<\/p>\n<p>Both teams were physical but also willing to play at pace and run the ball at every opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Moana Pasifika gained a slim advantage in the forward contest but the match was eventually decided by hard-running outside backs who traded tries in the second half.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-container\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jOi5CwRSNlA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The first try of the match came after only two minutes to Abraham Pole for Moana Pasifika who wheeled around a lineout and crashed over from close range.<\/p>\n<p>When Chris Apoua added a second after a strong surge by Timoci Tavatavanawai, Moana Pasifika had a 12-0 lead after only nine minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The Drua&#8217;s first try came in the 20th minute to Tevita Ikanivere who burrowed over from close range after strong preliminary work by Jone Koroiduadua, making the score 12-5.<\/p>\n<p>Ikanivere&#8217;s second try in the 45th minute brought the Drua back into the game at 26-24 and Pole also had a double when his 51st-minute try stretched the lead to 31-24 to Moana Pasifika.<\/p>\n<p>But they could not hold out, and the Drua hit back to edge a thrilling contest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Moana Pasifika 34<\/strong>\u00a0(Abraham Pole 2, Chris Apoua, Mike Curry, Danny Toala tries; Christian Leali\u2019ifano 3 cons, pen)\u00a0<strong>Fijian Drua 36<\/strong>\u00a0(Tevita Ikanivere 2, Iosefo Masi 2, Joseva Tamani, Taniela Rakuro tries; Teti Tela 2 cons, Caleb Muntz con) HT: 26-19<\/p>\n<p><strong>Moana Pasifika:<\/strong>\u00a015 William Havil, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai , 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Neria Fomai, 10 Christian Leali\u2019ifano, 9 Ere Enari, 8 Jonah Mau\u2019u, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Michael Curry, 5 Mahroni Ngakuru, 4 Samuel Slade , 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole.<br \/>\n<strong>Replacements:<\/strong>\u00a016 Luteru Tolai, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 Mike McKee, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Manu Paea, 22 Henry Taefu, 23 Fine Inisi<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fijian Drua:<\/strong>\u00a015 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 11 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Ratu Rotuisolia, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Emosi Tuqiri.<br \/>\n<strong>Replacements:<\/strong>\u00a016 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Jone Tiko, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Sorovakatini Tuifagalele, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Taniela Rakuro<\/p>\n<p>Referee: James Doleman<br \/>\nAssistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon<br \/>\nTMO: Christ Hart<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fijian Drua have had the last say in a match which provided 11 tries to edge Moana Pasifika 36-34 on the opening weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific season. The Drua trailed 19-5 in the first half and did not lead until the 77th minute, when replacement winger Taniela Rakuro scored the try that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"FIJIAN DRUA EDGE OUT MOANA PASIFIKA IN THRILLER","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news","category-super-rugby"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/333481988_595432655932515_3358487287489540166_n.png?fit=1080%2C1350&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-4MY","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13719,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/04\/14\/next-steps-in-pacific-island-professional-teams-journey-confirmed-by-new-zealand-rugby\/","url_meta":{"origin":18412,"position":0},"title":"Next steps in Pacific Island professional teams&#8217; journey confirmed by New Zealand Rugby","author":"admin_hland","date":"April 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 In a significant step forward for Pacific Island rugby, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a planned new professional competition next year, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced today. The NZR Board\u2019s decision to approve licences is a major step toward the two\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;RugbyHeartland News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/drua.jpg?fit=1200%2C656&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/drua.jpg?fit=1200%2C656&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/drua.jpg?fit=1200%2C656&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/drua.jpg?fit=1200%2C656&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/drua.jpg?fit=1200%2C656&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14489,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/08\/30\/super-rugby-pacific-format-confirmed\/","url_meta":{"origin":18412,"position":1},"title":"Super Rugby Pacific format confirmed","author":"admin_hland","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Super Rugby Pacific will kick off a new era for the world\u2019s most exciting professional rugby competition next February with a 15-week regular season and a refreshed finals format, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Rugby Australia (RA) have announced. 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