Super Rugby Pacific: Drua lose thriller against Hurricanes, Moana fizzled out by Reds

The Hurricanes kept their cool to douse the Fiji Drua fire at McLean Park in Napier on Saturday afternoon, claiming a hard-fought 38-34 win in round two of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.

While Moana Pasifika could not stop the Reds at Suncorp Stadium, losing 56-36 in Brisbane on Friday night, as the two Pasifika clubs each recorded their second losses in the competition.

Another disappointing end for the two sides.

The Drua team lost it in the last five minutes, having taken the lead just minutes before through a well-worked try to number eight Elia Canakaivata at McLean Park in Napier.

With 11,381 people in attendance, close to 2000 of them supporting the Drua, the visitors threw everything they had into the first 40 minutes, leading 22-19 at the breather.

Ill-discipline, which head coach Glen Jackson had pointed to as the main culprit in their first round loss to the Brumbies in Suva, was kept in check as the Frank Lomani led side kept the momentum on until the end of the game.

Jackson said it was disappointing losing in the end after they had turned the fire on in the first half.

"I am disappointed for the country of Fiji and the boys," he said.

"Unfortunately, the boys did not get the win. We gave it everything. It's one of those games we didn't get, right at the end.

"But pretty proud of the boys and I hope the public of Fiji understand how hard they tried out there today."

The Hurricanes managed one try in the end, to flyhalf Harry Godfrey, as Drua had scored through Canakaivata, with less than five minutes left in the game.

It was tit-for-tat in the last 20 minutes, with the Hurricanes catching up to take the lead, after Drua lock-forward Isoa Nasilasila touched down at the resumption of the second half.

Two quick Hurricanes tries from halfback Cam Roigard and outside centre Bailyn Sullivan saw the locals lead midway through the second spell.

Then the Fijians reclaimed the lead with Canakaivata scoring off a lineout move.

Prop forward Mesake Doge said it was tough loss, in a game they should have won.

"We had that game in the bag," he said after the clash.

"Tough one to take."

Hurricanes co-captain Kirifi praised his team's defence, holding the Drua out for 18 phases after fulltime to secure the win.

"It was probably a pretty fair summary of the game," the flanker told Sky Sports post-match.

"Not gonna lie, quite disappointing, in the early parts of that game. We played our best rugby in the last 10 minutes, and we challenged ourselves to show a little bit of maturity once we got a lead there.

"Our biggest setback today was our discipline, and that's myself included - that was really putting us on the back foot and giving them more opportunities than we needed to."

Drua skipper Lomani was left disappointed again, following the close loss to the Brumbies in Suva the week before.

"We brought physicality but it was disappointing that we couldn't finish the game," he said.

"We had them in the last minute but just our execution ... the Hurricanes have been a quality side for a number of years and small moments like that, they take the opportunity so we've got to be better."

The win gave the Hurricanes their first for the season, following their loss to the Crusaders last weekend, while the Drua have lost twice now, losing to the Brumbies in Suva last week.

First half show

Hurricanes had two players off the park for Yellow Cards in the first half, with captain Du' Plessis Kirifi and then replacement Will Tucker getting their marching orders for foul play.

The visitors led 22-19 at half-time after they came back strongly into the game, following an early Kirifi try after 45 seconds of kick-off.

Drua lock forward Isoa Nasilasila had claimed the clean ball from kick-off but the Hurricanes got the ball back and All Black halfback Cam Roigard broke through the Drua defense to send Kirifi running clear for the line.

Tall winger Iliesa Ratuva finished off in the corner to draw level after four minutes and playmaker Isaiah Washington-Ravula then slipped a penalty kick through to send Drua up 8-5 but the Hurricanes claimed one try back in the 17th minute.

This time it was number eight Bryaden Iose who finished off from another Roigard break near the Drua line and Harry Godfrey converted for the Hurricanes to lead 12-8.

Then the Drua turned it on for their fans, close to 1,000 of them, who had turned up amongst the Hurricanes supporters on the grandstands around McLean Park.

Ravula danced his way through the Hurricanes defense near the upright and converted his own try for Drua to lead 15-12.

Two sure tries went begging after that, first after Meli Derenalagi had Hurricanes fullback Callum Harkin to beat and Elia Canakaivata in support but his pass went forward, instead of going into Canakaivata's hands, with an open tryline in front of them.

Then from the ensuing play, winger Taniela Rakuro was taken out in a Fatafehi Fineanganofo tackle in the corner as he dived for the tryline.

But captain Frank Lomani made sure of his own try, when he dived over the Hurricances defense in the 34th minute, with Ravula's conversion sending the Drya to a 22-12 lead.

Former New Zealand sevens player Fineanganofo responded with a Hurricanes try just before half-time, picking the ball up from the back of a ruck after Godfrey had broken through the Drua defense line, only to be stopped short of scoring by Rakuro and fullback Ilaisa Droasese.

The Drua drove to Wellington after the game and flew back to Nadi on Sunday.

They will fly to Sydney on Wednesday, to take on the Waratahs in round three of the competition.

Hurricanes 38 (Tries: Kirifi, Iose, Fineanganofo, Roigard, Sullivan, Godfrey; Cons: Godfrey 4)

Drua 34 (Tries: Canakaivata, Nasilasila, Lomani, Armstrong-Ravula, Ratuva; Cons: Armstrong-Ravula; Pens: Armstrong-Ravula)

Savea claims first try in Moana loss

Inspirational captain Ardie Savea scored his first try for Moana Pasifika but he could not help his side as they went down fighting 56-36 to the Reds in Brisbane.

Savea's try, after the Reds had taken an early three try lead in the first quarter of the game, brought some respect to the scoreline in the first half, as the home team prevailed at Suncorp Stadium with eight tries.

All eight were converted - seven by Tom Lynagh - while outstanding flanker Fraser McReight had a field day on both sides of the ball.

But discipline, as well as tackling, will be a work on for the Reds, who lost three players to yellow cards in the first half.

But all was not lost as Moana kept firing shots and electric winger Kyren Taumoefolau claimed a second-half double to give the visitors a sniff.

The double added to the team's five try tally in the end.

With 13 Wallabies in their match-night 23, the star-studded Reds resisted a spirited fightback from Moana to record a runaway eight-tries-to-five victory on Friday night.

Having trailed 21-0 after a dozen minutes, the Pasifika pulled to within seven points of the lead midway through the second half before the Reds turned the screws at Suncorp Stadium.

Revelling in the wet conditions, the Reds bolted out of the blocks with three tries in the opening 11 minutes through number eight Seru Uru, and prolific wingers Filipo Daugunu and Tim Ryan.

Moana Pasifika reduced the halftime deficit to 21-8 courtesy of Savea's try and a penalty goal to fullback William Havili.

The North Harbour-based side will host the Highlanders in their first home match at the North Harbour Stadium in Albany on Friday night.

Reds 56 (Tries: Uru, Daugunu, Ryan, Faessler, Blyth, Smith, McReight, McLaughlin-Phillips; Cons: Lynagh 7, McLaughlin-Phillips)

Moana Pasifika 36 (Tries: Savea, Aiaimalo, Taumoefolau 2, Craig; Cons: Havili 4)