Tawake: With God We Came This Far

The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua retained the Super W title with a 38-30 win over Queensland Reds in Saturday night’s grand final in Townsville, Australia. Playing with 13-play­ers with less than seven minutes to go did not deter the Inoke Male- coached side.

An emotional Drua captain Bi­tila Tawake said they had been through a lot.

“Without God we would not have made it this far,” Tawake said.

She thanked the Fijian commu­nities in Australia for supporting them when things got tough and those who came to their games.

Full-back Luisa Tisolo was named Player of the Final for landing five conversions and a penalty for a 100 per cent kicking record.

The Reds took an early 7-0 lead from a converted try before the Drua hit back with tries to Tawake and lock Mereoni Nakesa, which was converted by Tisolo.

The Reds kicked over a penalty to narrow the deficit to 14-10 at half­time.

The Reds regained the lead to 17-14 early in the second spell from a converted try.

The Drua came back with a try to No.8 Sereima Leweniqila and Tisolo converted to push them in front 21-17.

The visitors struck again when a backline move saw burly prop Sit­eri Rasolea created a gap for Vani Arei to send winger Adita Milinia away for a try with Tisolo making no mistake with the conversion to further the lead 28-17. Then it was Tisolo who landed a penalty to bring the scores to 31-17.

Blindside flanker Karalaini Naisewa in defence ripped the ball away from a Reds player to run the final 30 metres to score a try under­neath the post with Tisolo adding the extras to bring the scores to 38-17.

The Reds managed to score 13 points to bring the scores to 38-30 after the Drua had lost Tawake and Laisani Moceisawana to the sin-bin.

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Story by: leonec@fijisun.com.fj