Rugby: Drua finish second in clash with Highlanders

The night belonged to 'Ikale Tahi winger Taniela Filimone at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night, scoring two tries as the Highlanders scored a 43-20 win over the Fijian Drua, in a Super Rugby Pacific match.

It took him just two minutes to make his presence felt in his debut game for the home team, finishing off a quick Highlanders passing move to score the team's first try.

Ten minutes later he was at the right spot again at the right time, running in untouched from wide out to register the team's second try.

He also made a try saving tackle on Drua winger Selesitino Ravutaumada in the 31st minute after the Fijians had attacked down the flanks.

Ravutaumada was streaming down the flank with support infield, but opted to dummy that Filimone did not take, getting in a tackle that stopped his opposite's run.

Head coach Jamie Joseph said Filimone played well on his debut and his tries came at the right time for the club.

Errors from the restart hampered Drua's momentum, with knock-ons at critical moments. The Fijians could not string together any good attack in the first 25 minutes, having to defend most of the time as turnovers meant the Highlanders had more opportunities to fight their way towards the Drua line.

Head coach Glen Jackson said they just did not start well and struggled as a result.

"We just did not start well. We had talked about it the whole week," Jackson said at the game's post-match conference. "When you give a team like the Highlanders a five point head start after a minute thirty it makes it a little bit harder.

"To score after half time was good, credit to the boys for the fightback, but unfortunately the last pass when we would have scored in the corner was 14 points the other end."

That was a turning point, the score that went begging as the Fijians were deep on attack and almost getting to the Highlanders' line, but a wayward pass saw the hosts counter and resulted in tries down the opposite end.

Co-captain for the match,Mesulame Dolokoto,said they fought and did not give up.

"Coming back from the shed we said, 'Let's give it a go, whether we get this game or don't get this game, it will not be because of lack of trying.'

"Told the boys after the game don't lose the joy of playing, even though the results are not going our way."

Highlanders co-captain and former Queen Victoria School player Timoci Tavatavanawai was a steady influence in midfield for the hosts. He had two of his former scholars in Drua halfbacks Simione Kuruvoli and Dolokoto opposing him. He said it was tough.

"There was a lot of energy coming into the game," the stocky backliner said.

"So happy with how the leaders stood tall today. We knew they were going to be tough, they had the flair to win the game.

"We have been letting down the team in the past couple of weeks in the pressure moments but today, we learned the hard way, and it was good out there."

Tavatavanawai said they just talked about nailing their basics after the Drua had picked up pace after the second half restart and play their structure.

That paid off in the end, as they scored two tries in the end that took the game out of reach of the Drua.

Drua fullback Caleb Muntz had an early exit from the game, injuring himself in the 26th minute, which saw young Isikeli Rabitu get an earlier introduction into the match then planned.

Flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula stepped up in the 36th minute for a shot at the posts, after Drua had won a penalty, raising the flag and recording the team's first points in the match.

But from the ensuing restart Tavatavanawai claimed a penalty, after he stood over Joseva Tamani to rip the ball away.

And as halftime loomed, centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen powered his way through the tiring Drua defense to claim the side's third try, giving the Highlanders a 17-3 lead at the breather.

Second half

Drua came back firing in the second half. Replacement Rabitu ran from halfway to score the Drua's first try from a Highlanders kick that they fielded. Ravula's conversion saw them trail 17-8.

But the Highlanders countered straight away, with fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens cutting short a Drua movement when he got the ball, kicked ahead, before Iosefo Masi gathered on the ground and played the ball.

The ensuing penalty saw the Highlanders go for touch and a lineout from that kick for touch and the Highlanders were on attack again.

Fijian heritage player Veveni Lasaqa claimed the Highlanders' fourth try. Cam Millar's conversion saw the home side go further up 24-8.

Then in the 47th minute, Kuruvoli finished off a Fijian Drua attack, receiving the ball from Inia Tabuavou, after Masi had managed to break the Highlander defensive line.

Ravula's conversion saw the gap close as Highlanders led 24-15.

Then five minutes later, winger Ponipate Loganimasi grubbered, collected and dived over as the Drua attacked again, closing the scoreline to 24-20.

Flanker Tamani had a strong game at 6.

Kuruvoli was sin-binned for knocking the ball to the ground in an attempt to thwart another Highlanders attack, reducing Drua to 14 for 10 minutes.

Phillip Baselala replaced Kuruvoli and had the team on the front foot, however the side could not finish the game off as they needed.

Replacement Tanielu Tele'a finished off with another Highlanders try witn 7 to go, crashing over in between the posts, with Millar's conversion sending the Highlanders' lead to 36-20.

Then replacement Sam Gilbert finished off the game with a clear try as the Highlanders took it home - 41-20, Millar's conversion ending the game for the hosts, winning 43-20.

Moana beaten by the Blues

Meanwhile, Ardie Savea and his Moana Pasifika side were beaten 36-17 by the Blues at Eden Park in an earlier game on Saturday.

Ricky Riccitelli led the scoring for the hosts and the Blues just had too much pressure in the first half, not giving their visitors any chance to settle down in the first 40.

They rattled Moana Pasifika, who struggled to settle into the contest, and lost out in the battle after the 80 minutes time period.

The side led 21-0 at one time, after captain Patrick Tuipuloty charged over for the team's third try. Moana Pasifika number eight Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa dived over the line to capture some breathing space for the side.

But All Black winger Mark Tele'a twisted and rolled his way over the line just before halftime.

Flanker Miracle Fai'ilagi and winger Kyren Taumoefolau gave the visitors something to cheer about when they scored their tries, but it was another case of too little, too late for the side.

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