A gutsy performance by the Fiji Airways Fijian Drua has kept their semifinal hopes alive in the National Rugby Championship.

They came from behind to score a 40-36 bonus-point win over the Melbourne Rising at Casey Field, last night.

The Drua must now score a bonus-point win against Queensland Country at Lawaqa Park this Saturday if they are to cement their spot. Rugby league convert and winger, Jiuta Wainiqolo, scored the winning try in the 75th minute. Rising held a handy 26-7 lead at halftime with Drua’s lone try in the first half coming from Peceli Nacebe and Enele Malele converted.

In the second half, the Drua hit back with tries to centre Cyril Reece in the 43rd minute followed by Wainiqolo’s first try in the 49th minute. Malele was successful with his conversion. Then again in the 51st-minute hooker Ratunaisa Navuma darted in for a try and Malele was again on target. Veteran Serupepeli Vularika, playing at second five-eight crashed over for the fifth try; Malele converting for a 35-29 lead.

Rising, with a few minutes left, were thought to have wrapped up the game with a penalty try after the Drua forwards deliberately collapsed the scrum, for the hosts to regain the lead 36-35.

With time ticking away, captain Eremasi Radrodro broke away from the base of the scrum to create room for halfback Peni Matawalu who then sent out a long pass to Wainiqolo who kept three Rising defenders in his wake to touchdown in the corner. Malele’s conversion went wide.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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