Golden Point Win- Kemu’s Droppie Does It Again

A drop goal from Kemu Valetini in extra time saw the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua beat NSW Waratahs 39-36 at Churchill Park, Lautoka, this afternoon.

The scores were tied 36-36 at full-time and it was time for the golden point when Valetini struck. The Drua was playing with 14-men after halfback Peni Matawalu was yellow carded.

Stand-in captain Iosefo Masi was superb in marshalling his men after Meli Derenalagi, Tevita Ikanivere and Mesake Doge were replaced. Masi scored three tries in the match.

“It was a tough game,” Ikanivere said.

“We let Waratahs back into the game. We cannot afford that against a quality side. We’ll work on that next week. We’ve got to put our foot down and finish them off.”

How it happened  

The Waratahs took an early 10-0 lead with a try to hooker Mahe Vailanu after it was set-up by flanker Charlie Gamble. The try was converted by first-five eighth Tane Edmed and a few minutes later kicked over a penalty.

This woke the hosts up with halfback Frank Lomani setting up numerous attacking moves.

However, it was the individual brilliance of centre, Iosefo Masi to score Drua’s first try with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula kicking over the conversion.

The Drua kept the momentum on and from a lineout, Lomani took the ball from Ikanivere and managed to dot down the second try, which was converted for a 14-10 lead.

Then Apisalome Vota breached the Waratahs defence and Masi finished it off for the Drua’s third try, which was converted by Armstrong to extend the lead 21-10.

Then it was Masi again in for his third try with the conversion hitting the post bringing the scores to 26-10.

Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is playing his 50th Super Rugby game, was yellow-carded for an infringement while Armstrong-Ravula’s penalty attempt went wide.  

Halftime: Drua 26-10 Waratahs.

Waratahs came back with captain, Jake Gordon masterminding their moves. They kicked the ball behind the Drua defence with Gordon dictating play. The visitors exploited the weak Drua defence with Gamble scoring their second try, which was converted to narrow the deficit 26-14.

The Drua replied from the kick-off from a series of forward rush with Ikanivere scoring a try with the conversion going over 33-14.

From a number of forward drives, the Drua defence held on but a backline move, which saw Joey Walton score a try with the conversion going over, 33-24.

Armstrong-Ravula extended Drua’s lead to 36-24 with a penalty. Kitione Salawa copped a yellow card.

Waratahs from a forward move scored a try to Vailanu, with the conversion going wide, 36-29.

Burly flanker Lachie Swinton scored a try with the conversion over to level the scores 36-36.

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