Photo: Liam Swiggs / RNZ
The Fijian Drua defeated the Highlanders for the first time in the Super Rugby Pacific competition on Saturday, with a 24-14 win.
It was a fitting present to tough number eight Elia Canakaivata, who played his 50th game for the club and the competition.
Two tries from fullback Isikeli Rabitu, including one in the second half, saw the Fijians claim the historic win at their third home venue, in front of close to 10,000 local fans.
The second half saw the side keep the Highlanders scoreless, after the visitors had led 14-12 at the end of the first 40 minutes.
Winning captain Temo Mayanavanua thanked divine help and their fans for the support, adding it was a win that the team wanted to honour Elia Canakaivata, who played his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game.
“First of all all glory and thanks to the Lord Almighty for his guidance and provision on our life,” he said.
“Without him we could not have done what we were able to do today.
“All throughout this week we’ve been talking about our mistakes that we can work on from the Chiefs game.
“I am happy just for the boys to do it for one of our mates, Elia’s 50th today.
“The atmosphere was unreal.”
Mayanavanua said their defence in the last 15 minutes of the game, especially when they were down one man following the yellow card to Rabitu, worked well, despite the Highlanders pressuring them.
“We were up against a quality Highlanders side today and they brought their A game, and just heads off to the boys for stucking in,” he said.
“We talked about working hard for each other and just always call the Fijian phrase ‘veilomani’ and that showed out there in that 14-men defence.”
Fijian heritage player and Highlanders’ co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai said they made too many errors, which cost them the game in the end.
“I would like to thank all the fans of both teams for their support,” he said.
“For us we just didn’t execute what we were trying to achieve today. We came close but playing at home, we know it’s tough, and we didn’t execute in the end.
“We were too eager to score. For us that has let us down in our past games.
“Throughout the whole season it’s our error rate, we did really well to get into the 22 but our error rate just let us down.”
Drua had their fans on their feet early when Tuidraki Samusamuvodre intercepted a Highlanders passing movement and raced towards their opposition’s 22 metre zone, before the ball was spun wide to Frank Lomani, who sent Virimi Vakatawa to the tryline, with an inside flick pass.
Isaiah Washington-Ravula converted for Drua to lead 7-0.
The Highlanders hit back with a try of their own, after Tavatavanawai broke through and sent the ball out to Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, whose pass out wide sent James Lowe diving over for a try out wide.
Cameron Millar converted from out wide to level scores, and flanker Veveni Lasaqa dived over from a maul.
The Drua opened scoring in the second spell with a Rabitu try before Canakaivata ploughed his way through the Highlanders cover.
A bonus point win was on the horizon for the local side as they made one last drive towards the line but replacement lock forward Mesake Vocevoce lost on the ball over the line as he dived over.
The win pushed the Drua up to eighth spot, with the Highlanders retaining seventh position.
Had they secured a bonus point they could have over jumped the Highlanders to seventh spot.
On Friday night, the Hurricanes defeated Crusaders 38-31 to open up their lead at the top of the points table, while Western Force pipped Waratahs 20-17 in Sydney.
