The Fijian Drua have stolen a last-gasp thriller over the Queensland Reds with Isikeli Rabitu scoring a 79th minute matchwinner in Suva.
The replacement winger barrelled over with mere seconds remaining to break Queensland hearts once more in Fiji and keep the Drua's faint final hopes alive.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
The Reds lead 33-29 with just eight minutes remaining and looked to have sealed a famous win with Seru Uru's 77th minute turnover but the Drua had other ideas, storming back downfield and driving over to send the home ground wild.
Rabitu's heroics capped a rollercoaster clash that yielded eleven tries and seven lead changes with Reds skipper Tate McDermott left to rue what might have been.
"We missed too many tackles," McDermott told Stan Sport post-game.
"Obviously a disappointing way to lose but we got the bonus point. We're not happy with that but it's better than nothing."
In a bruising and sapping physical affair, forwards scored nine of the 11 tries as the lead changed hands seven times at HFC Bank Stadium.
In crossing for six tries to five but missing four conversions, the Drua probably deserved victory.
But it only came after a frenetic finish in which Reds co-captain Fraser McReight was yellow-carded, leaving his side a man short for the final 90 seconds.
That's all the Drua needed to leave the Reds none from three in Suva and now back in a dogfight for a top-six finals berth, ahead of two pivotal derbies away from home against the seventh-placed Waratahs and third-placed Brumbies.
The Reds made a nice enough start, fullback Jock Campbell racing away to give his side an early lead after Drua winger Taniela Rakuro had opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
But, seeking a breather on the short side, flanker Etonia Waqa caught Tim Ryan napping and brushed off the winger to score the softest of tries for the Drua.
Again, like after the Drua's two earlier tries through Rakuro and prop Mesake Doge either side of Campbell's effort, the home team couldn't convert.
Filling in for injured Wallabies hooker Matt Faesler, Richie Asiata's fifth try in six games dragged the Reds back to within a point, before Fijian-born flanker Seru Uru strolled over down the left wing to earn the visitors a 19-15 halftime lead.
The Drua came out all guns blazing after the break, with lock Mesake Vocevoce and flanker Isoa Tuwai charging over to give the hosts a 29-19 advantage.
The Reds hit back through finishing forwards Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Max Craig.
But Rabitu had the final say to throw a spanner in the Reds' finals hopes, a fortnight after the Drua also downed the Waratahs in Fiji.
Fijian Drua 36 (Rabitu, Tuwai, Vocevoce, Waqa, Doge, Rakuro tries; Armstrong-Ravula 3 cons) def Queensland Reds 33 (Campbell, Asiata, Uru, Toomaga-Allen, Craig tries; Lyangh 2, McLaughlin-Phillips 2 cons)
Saturday May 3 12:05 pm AEST – Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport
DRUA (1-15): Peni Ravai, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge (c), Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Isoa Tuwai, Kitione Salawa, Simione Kuruvoli, Kemu Valetini, Taniela Rakuro, Inia Tabuavou, Vuate Karawalevu, Selestino Ravutaumada, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula
Replacements: Tevita Ikanivere, Haereiti Hetet, Samuela Tawake, Leone Rotuisolia, Joseva Tamani, Elia Canakiavata, Philip Baselala, Isikeli Rabitu
REDS (1-15): Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Seru Uru, Fraser McReight, Joe Brial, Tate McDermott (c), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Dre Pakeho, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell
Replacements: Max Craig, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Massimo de Lutiis, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Heremaia Murray
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: James Doleman, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Glenn Newman
