NRC: Vikings beat Drua 41-28 to cement position in top four

Sat, Sep 28, 2019, 4:00 AM
Emma Greenwood
by Emma Greenwood
Tom Banks steps his Fijian rival in Canberra's NRC clash against the Drua. Photo: Getty Images
Tom Banks steps his Fijian rival in Canberra's NRC clash against the Drua. Photo: Getty Images

The Canberra Vikings have bounced back from their loss to the NRC leaders with a 41-28 win over the Fijian Drua to show they remain a force in the competition.

The Vikings and Drua were locked on nine competition points heading into round five, sharing fourth spot on the ladder, and the job of making the semi-finals was going to be difficult for the loser with two rounds remaining.

Beaten 45-28 by the undefeated Western Force in Perth last week, the Vikings were determined to make up for their insipid performance and controlled the match from the outset despite a strong showing from the visitors.

The Drua racked up 76 points against Sydney last week in their first win of the season, running in 11 tries in a typically razzle-dazzle performance.

Canberra's Pete Samu charges into the Drua defence. Photo: Getty Images

But they showed they also have the patience and forward strength to match their unstructured play, scoring three of their four tries from pick and drive moves after several phases of play.

While Canberra pushed out to an early lead, the Drua clawed to within a point early in the second half but turnovers and cost them dearly, while the game management of Wallabies squad members Tom Banks and Joe Powell steered the Vikings home.

The win cements Canberra's position in the top four and with two home games in the final two rounds, they are in the box seat to make the finals, while the Drua need maximum points against the Rising in Melbourne and Queensland Country in Sigatoka to have a chance of defending their NRC title.

The Vikings seemed determined to play like the Drua in the opening minutes, throwing the ball around and turning the ball over on a few occasions.

But they soon settled, opening the scoring in the seventh minute through Tom Wright following a turnover from the Drua inside their own 22.

IT seemed to settle the Vikings, who started playing to their strengths, building pressure through patient phase play that eventually led to their second try to winger Toni Pulu, who was able to stroll over out wide .

Canberra flyer Tom Wright is caught by the Drua defence. Photo: Getty images

But a lack of discipline allowed the Drua to march up field following a penalty and they controlled the ball well in the forwards, with no.8 Johnny Dyer eventually diving over to score next to the posts.

The Vikings hit back soon after with Pulu going over for this second to extend the Vikings' lead to 15-7, although the conversion attempt was again unsuccessful.

The Drua hit back quickly, again using their forwards to great effect before lock Epeli Radaniva caught the Vikings defence flat-footed when taking a quick tap from a penalty and diving over the line.

They looked set to go in again almost immediately when Dyer charged through a gap but he was pulled down short of the line and eventually penalised for not releasing, with the Vikings making the most of their opportunity before the break.

Wallabies squad member Tom Banks gave his side a chance to launch an attack just before the break with his successful 50-22 kick handing possession back to the Vikings in strong position.

And he was the man on hand to take the final pass, running around to improve the angle for the kicker, with Lonergan's conversion giving the home side a 22-14 halftime lead.

The Fijians continued to go to their forwards in the second term and clawed their way to within a point after Radrodro scored from a pick and drive effort.

The tit-for-tat scoring seemed set to continue when the Vikings were the next to score, when Lonergan took a lovely backhand flick pass from Wright as he was tackled.

But the Vikings maintained control, especially when Joe Powell entered the game with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Banks notched his double in the 66th minute and while the match continued to be an arm wrestle, it was the Vikings who were able to make the most of their chances, with Mack Hansen racking over inside the final five minutes after Canberra took a quick tap from a penalty close to their line.

Nacanieli Narequva ran in a consolation try for the Drua in the dying stages but time did not allow for a comeback from the visitors.

RESULT

Canberra Vikings 41

Tries: Wright, Pulu 2, Banks 2, Lonergan, Hansen 

Cons: Lonergan 2, Kuenzle

Fijian Drua 28

Tries: Dyer, Radaniva, Radrodro, Narequva

Cons: Tikotani 3, Dyer

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