Queensland Reds lost 28-19 to Fiji’s Drua in atmospheric Suva as a three-Test rally ended today.
The Reds bounced back from a poor start where their own mistakes contributed to a 12-0 deficit with just seven minutes on the clock in the Super Rugby Pacific clash.
Winger Suliasi Vunivalu was off with a yellow card when the Reds rallied.
Winger Floyd Aubrey chased down Tate McDermott’s high kick and regained possession on 11 minutes.
On the ensuing play, shortstop Lawson Creighton stabbed a cross to Aubrey on the right side. He fully grasped it and happily dived for his first try with the Reds in his first role.
The Reds were back to 15 men when they closed the gap even further to 15-7 in conditions made slippery by the pre-match showers.
This time, Creighton faked down the left, speared past two defenders and weaved through the last threads of the defense to score a superb individual try.
Trailing 15-14, the momentum was with the Reds midway through the first half. A penalty conceded at half-time turned into an 18-14 deficit at the break when Fiji goalkeeper Drua Kemu Valetini kicked a long penalty from 52 metres.
“The fight and the bounce was really good and we fought to come back,” Reds co-captain Liam Wright told Stan Sport.
“Probably the story of the match was the penalty and the three points we conceded at half-time. That kind of ill-discipline came in and killed some of the chances we were creating in our offensive zone.”
The Reds played 30 minutes of the match with just 14 men with Vunivalu shown a second yellow card in the 45th minute which turned into a red card. That moment, before the second try, by Drua whore Tevita Ikanivere, left the Reds with 14 men for 20 minutes and a 25-14 deficit.
Despite a tiring game and momentum being sapped by Fiji’s skills, the Reds kept fighting.
“With four minutes to play, substitute hooker George Blake scored on the back of a well-worked pencil off the line.
It produced a thrilling finish at 25-21, but the home team found the extra points with a penalty goal in regulation time.
“The opportunity to play in Fiji in front of such a big crowd is not to be missed,” said Wright in praise of the generous 10,000-plus boisterous locals who turned out in Suva.
The Reds will regroup in Brisbane this week and prepare for next Saturday’s game against the Western Force in their final regular season game at Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds remain fifth with games against the Force and NSW Waratahs (May 31) to decide the top eight line-up.
FIJIAN DRUA 28: Attempts: Tevita Ikanivere 2, penalty attempt, Conversions: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, penalty goal: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravaula 2, Kemu Valetini Loser QUEENSLAND REDS 19: Tries: Floyd Aubrey, Lawson Creighton, George Blake, Conversions: Lawson Creighton 2 Half-time: Fijian Drua 18-Reds 14 Ground: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva