Moana Pasifika yesterday held on with 13 players to beat the Fijian Drua 39-36 in the first match of the season between the Pacific island teams in Super Rugby Pacific.
A red card to Nigel Ah Wong for a no-arms tackle and a yellow card to former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu for a professional foul left Moana Pasifika with only 13 men and a lead of 39-22 with just over 10 minutes remaining at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
The Drua scored two late tries, but it was not enough to take the match from Moana Pasifika.
Photo: AFP
The Drua had taken advantage of their numerical advantage with a long pass into an overlap that created a try for Epeli Momo seven minutes from fulltime. Then Selestino Ravutaumada led a breakout that resulted in a spectacular try to Junior Ratuva and cut Moana Pasifika’s lead to 39-36 with four minutes left.
They seemed certain to win with Ravutaumada in devastating form on attack, but crucial mistakes from the Drua — a lineout that was not straight and a late turnover — gave Auckland-based Moana Pasifika a final possession and a chance to clear for touch and end the game.
Moana Pasifika earned the win with a dominant first-half performance and by scoring two tries when down to 14 men in the second half. The Drua took too long to settle into their game and produce their best attacking form. Too much of their attacking effort was damaged by errors.
Backrower Lotu Inisi scored a try in first-half stoppage-time, which set Moana Pasifika on course to a win after the teams had approached halftime locked at 8-8.
In the last play of the half, Moana Pasifika attacked down the right flank then switched play to the left and Inisi crossed in an overlap to score a try, converted by William Havisi, giving them a 15-8 lead at the break.
Henry Taefu scored in the first passage of play in the second half and Moana Pasifika stretched their lead to 22-8 with a Havili conversion.
Both teams began with losses in the first round of the season. The Drua lost to the Auckland Blues and Moana Pasifika lost to the Otago Highlanders after leading at halftime.
In yesterday’s second game, the New South Wales Waratahs beat the Canterbury Crusaders 37-24.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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