The Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women kicked off their Super W defence campaign with a hard-fought 32-21 victory over the Queensland Reds in Ballymore today.
The Karalaini Naisewa skippered side were made to work hard throughout the encounter as play often sea-sawed from one end to the other.
Former Drua rep Doreen Narokete put on a fine show for her new club and set up Tiana Molloy to score the first try of the afternoon in the 16th minute.
Drua replied three minutes later with a fine try to Teresia Tinaivalu who was neatly fed a perfect pass by winger Merewairita Neivosa.
Fullback Luisa Tisolo missed the conversion as the Fijians trailed by two points.
Neivosa scored a brilliant try using her bursting speed and strength in the 36th minute to brush off four tacklers and dot in the corner.
The conversion from fly-half Mere Rokouno was missed as the side led 10-7 at the break.
The visitors went further up in just two minutes after the kick off of the second half as centre Vani Arei went in for their third try after some good work on the wing by Adita Milinia set her in the clear. The conversion by Tisolo was missed as Fiji took an eight point lead.
After missing many scoring chances after this, prop Ana Korovata bulldozed her way through to further extend the lead for Drua in the 53rd minute.
Korovata’s celebration was cut short two minutes later as she was sin-binned for an infringement in a ruck just in front of the try-line and Queensland was awarded a penalty try which opened up the gap.
Despite a player short on the field, Drua continued to press the opponents and flanker Sulita Waisega scored a try in the 67th minute.
However, another try from Queensland narrowed the gap by just six points to make the last ten minutes of the encounter, a thrilling affair.
With just two minutes remaining on the clock, winger Neivosa sealed the deal for Drua with yet another well executed try.
The Moses Rauluni coached side heads home tomorrow to prepare for their next match which will be at home against the Waratahs on Saturday.
