RECAP: The Fijian Drua have survived a late push to hold on for a 24-22 win over the Western Force.
The victory spoils the debut of NRL convert Zac Lomax, who came on with 20 minutes to go as the Force launched a comeback.
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Wallabies lock and club captain Jeremy Williams was the man who crossed to reduce the margin to two, setting up the tense finish.
Ben Donaldson had a tough penalty with two minutes to go to win it, watching the ball sail to the left.
They hunted for the winner but were out of gas as the Drua held tough for the win.
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Drua 24-22: Remarkable fight from the Drua as they hold on for the win.
The Force botch their lineout throw and it lands in the hosts' arms, giving them the win.
Drua 24-22: Somehow, the Force are still in this after twice the ball comes loose to Drua hands.
Jeremy Williams comes up with a clutch pilfer to earn a penalty after the Drua recover the ball.
Ben Donaldson puts the kick to touch 25-30 metres out.
Drua 24-22: Ben Donaldson can't convert as the Drua crowd erupts.
It's a tough kick at goal but it slices away to the left, giving the hosts a 22 drop out, which they put just over halfway.
Drua 24-22: A call for a no-arms tackle gives the chance for Ben Donaldson to give the Force the lead late.
It's a kick from 45 metres out on the angle, with Donaldson 1/3 on the day...
Drua 24-22: The Drua come up with the clutch turnover as they win the penalty.
The hosts are out on their feet as they latch onto the ball at the ruck for the penalty, but the Force hit right back for their own penalty, allowing them to kick to close to halfway.
Drua 24-22: The Force are playing the territory game well as they win a goal-line drop-out.
They're the team with all the energy as Nic Dolly is the unlikely kicker that forces the put down.
Drua 24-22: The Force back their rolling maul again and it delivers as Will Harris peels through.
The power of the pack and the man advantage proves too much as the number eight dives over.
Drua 24-17: Excellent defence from the Force ends in a counter attack opportunity for Zac Lomax as he races away, finding Ben Donaldson who kicks ahead.
Donaldson and the Force rally to collect the attack and force the turnover, with the Drua scrambling in defence.
Iliasia Droasese has a brain explosion and holds Donaldson from racing clear and while the Drua scramble in defence, Droasese is still going to the bin.
Drua 24-17: Zac Lomax has shown signs of his talent so far.
He makes a solid hit that ends in a turnover and while he wins his first high ball, it ends with Lomax going into touch after catching it within an inch of space.
Drua 24-17: On debut, Isikeli Basiyalo has sparked the hosts with a brilliant intercept.
The Sevens convert reads the pass from Kurtley Beale and runs 60 metres for the crucial try.
Drua 19-17: Zac Lomax has officially made his Super Rugby Pacific debut.
He comes onto the field after that try, replacing Dylan Pietsch as the teams go for the water break.
Drua 19-17: Jeremy Williams further reduces the margin as the Force skipper gets his third of the year.
A beauty of a long ball from Kurtley Beale finds George Bridge, with Williams there for the pop as the lock drives the legs over the line.
Drua 19-12: Doesn't matter who's here, but the Force are in red-hot form at scrum time.
They keep winning penalties even with a fresh front-row, putting the pressure on the Drua.
Drua 19-12: The Western Force finally get to the line as Dylan Pietsch salutes in the corner.
It's a perfect cut out ball from Bayley Kuenzle as Pietsch is left unmarked, aerobatically finishing for fun.
Drua 19-7: Vaiolini Ekausi can't convert after initially looking like scoring
They win another penalty advantage from the scrum, however, the TMO denies the try as Ekuasi bobbles the ball before diving over the line.
Drua 19-7: Misinale Epenisa nearly gets his second but the TMO denies it for an extra movement
Dylan Pietsch sparks the Force with a grubber and re-gather, with Epenisa gunning for the line, however, he makes one too many goes at the line.
The Force had the penalty advantage, opting for a five metre scrum that they win another penalty from.
Drua 19-7: The Force spend the end of the half slowly working down the field after a big penalty.
They have a lineout 15 metres out but can't find their target, allowing the hosts to kick clear and nearly re-gather, only for the ball to trickle into touch.
Drua 19-7: The Drua are rolling right now as Isikeli Rabitu dives over in the corner.
It's a midfielder masterclass as Virimi Vakatava crashes through and combines with Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, drawing the fullback for the winger to score.
Drua 14-7: An unreal try from the Fijian Drua as Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula finishes off an 80 metre effort.
The centres combine nicely throughout the process to find Isikeli Rabitu, with the flyhalf backing up to finish the five-pointer.
7-all: Somehow, Brandon Paenga-Amosa is denied twice as the Drua hold on.
First, BPA dives for the line from the rolling maul as the ball squirts out, with his second effort denied as the assistant referee spots the knock on.
The Force hunt back inside the 22, with their handling costing them seriously.
7-all: A smart short side raid nearly delivers as Henry Robertson and George Bridge combine well.
Bridge finds Will Harris, on for Jack Daly (HIA), with the number eight dragged down and drops the ball 12 metres out.
The Force will keep attacking after winning the scrum penalty against their feed.
7-all: Penaia Cakobau makes good use of his late call up as he levels the scores for the Drua.
The Drua break clear through Isikeli Basiyalo, with the hooker-turned-prop finding his way over the line from short.
Force 7-0: The Force are defending like a team possessed as they repel the Drua once again.
A great hit from George Bridge pushes them back from the Force's line, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa getting over the ball for the turnover a few phases later.
They get another clearing penalty for hands in the ruck as Etonia Waqa prepares to return from the sin bin.
Force 7-0: The Force put pressure on themselves after an error from lineout time following the kick-off.
The Drua can't do anything with it as they drop the ball 15 metres out.
Force 7-0: The Force have struck as Misinale Epenisa dives over from short.
The visitors kick to the line from Waqa's yellow card and while the Drua stop the rolling maul a metre out, the tighthead prop proves unstoppable.
The Force turn the game off the back of Hamish Stewart's break from his 22, allowing the visitors to match down the field.
Vaiolini Ekuasi and Franco Molina make the half breaks and force Etonia Waqa to commit the professional foul at ruck time, seeing him sit down for ten.
The Force have started pretty tidy as they force an error right on halfway.
It came after a costly penalty inside the 22 allowed the Drua to clear their line for the time being.
Franco Molina makes a half break and hunts down the wing, with the ball back inside to Mac Grealy hitting the deck.
Ben Donaldson kicks off and this game is underway in Lautoka.
The Drua get the chance to perform Na Bole for the first time in a while on the field, with Motikiai Murray leading the way.
Tries: Cakobau, Armstrong-Ravula, Rabitu, Basiyalo
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2/4
Pens:
Tries: Epenisa, Pietsch, Williams, Harris
Cons: Donaldson 1/3, Beale 0/1
Pens: Donaldson 0/1
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the Fijian Drua-Western Force contest in Lautoka.
Conditions are as hot as always but the rain thankfully seems to be staying away.
Eyes will be on Zac Lomax, who will likely be coming off the bench in the second half around the 55-60 min mark.
The Drua have made changes from Wednesday's team naming. Virimi Vakatava comes into the centres to replace Iosefo Namoce, while Penaia Cakobau comes in for Haereiti Hetet, who was ruled out in the warm-up.
DRUA (1-15): Penaia Cakobau, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila (co-c), Joseva Tamani, Etonia Waqa, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Ilaisa Droasese, Virimi Vakatava, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (co-c), Isikeli Basiyalo, Isikeli Rabitu
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Emosi Tuqiri, Samuela Tawake, Vilive Miramira, Kitione Salawa, Isoa Tuwai, Simione Kuruvoli, Manasa Mataele
FORCE (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Jeremy Williams (c), Nick Champion de Crespigny, Jack Daly, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Lopeti Faifua, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Kurtley Beale, Zac Lomax
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie
The Force's clash with the Drua will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:20 pm with kickoff expected at 2:35 pm.
