Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women were beaten 50-14 by a classy Waratahs outfit in the grand final of the 2024 Super W competition at the Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane today.
Discipline was again a let down for the defending champions as they copped three yellow cards and a red card in the big encounter.
A mistake in lineout by the Drua players allowed the Tahs to build the momentum and score the first points of the match through winger Desiree Miller who dived in the corner to touch down.
Speedster Maya Stewart got their second in the 14th minute and a scrum penalty in the 24th minute allowed Miller to sprint away and score to extend Waratahs’ lead by 17-0.
The Drua got on the score-board five minutes later after they were awarded a penalty try as Miller deliberately knocked the ball down and she was flashed a yellow card for the offence.
The Waratahs led 17-7 at the break and a good start by the Drua early in the second half saw Captain Karalaini Neisewa score their second try and a successful conversion from Mere Rokouono narrowed the gap by just three points.
The narrow deficit somewhat livened up the match but the more superior and clinical Waratahs used their patience, mobility, determination and dedication well to pile up more and more points to frustrate the Drua players; forcing them to get carded.
A penalty try to the Waratahs extended their lead to 24-14 after winger Adita Milinia was penalised for a high tackle preventing what would have been a try; and Miller completed her hat-trick in the 52nd minute to open up a 31-14 lead.
Fly-half Jennifer Ravutia also copped a yellow card, leaving the Drua with only 13 players on the field and giving the Tahs more space and opportunities to score.
Stewart, outside centre Georgina Friedrichs and Atasi Lafai added three more tries to wrap up the huge victory for the Waratahs while Asinate Serevi copped a yellow card for a high tackle and Ravutia was sent off after getting her second booking of the day.
