SUPER Rugby supporters turned up to witness the Western Force overpower the Fijian Drua at the HBF Stadium in Perth.
The Fijian Drua had to make a last minute change in their line-up after Mesake Vocevoce was ruled out due to injury. Isoa Nasilasila jumped into the first line up while Josefa Tamani provided cover on the bench.
Playing his 50th game for the Drua, openside flanker Kitione Salawa was outstanding. He made significant carries and was powerful over the ruck to create turnovers. Salawa scored the Drua’s first try of the game.
After a solid wheel-away by the forward pack, Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa recognized the space and fired a long shooting pass towards the left sideline. Zuriel Togiatama was there to finally jot down his name on the try-scoring list.
Togiatama scored his first try for the club but his line-out throws still needed improvement. The Drua lost a number of key lineouts in the first half due to his inconsistent and inaccurate throws.
At half-time the Drua led 12–7.
Fatigue looked to have quickly caught up with the Drua in the second half as the forwards fell apart at scrum time.
The Western Force capitalized on the Drua’s weakness and scored another try from the back of a powerful scrum.
Sakiusa Ravudi was subbed in for Togiatama but the lineout troubles lingered on for the Drua.
Maika Tuitubou copped a yellow card in the 57th minute for a silly infringement in the ruck.
Elia Canakaivata and Penaia Cakobau were brilliant when they came into the game. They lifted the intensity of the Drua attack with their bulldozing runs through the tight Western Force defense line.
Kemueli Valetini slotted a penalty goal in the 64th minute to push the Drua ahead 15–14.
But four minutes later the Western Force scored a try from a very speculative forward pass to edge the Drua once more.
Fullback Isikeli Rabitu did well in the high ball contest against Zac Lomax. The Western Force star is renowned for his superior high catching skills but Rabitu was able to beat him on a couple of occasions.
The Drua mounted a strong comeback in the final 10 minutes but the Western Force held strong to win the sluggish contest 19–15.
