The Western Force’s finals hopes are all but over after falling 38-7 to a rampaging Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.
Force centre Sio Tomkinson opened the scoring after just three minutes but that’s all the visitors could manage as the Drua piled on five unanswered tries to run out 38-7 victors at their Churchill Park fortress.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Drua number eight Elia Canikavita was imperious in his two-try showing while Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula pulled the strings from flyhalf in his best performance of the season to date.
The result has all but dashed the Force’s chances to qualify for Super Rugby Pacific’s top six and extends the Drua’s unbeaten streak at Churchill Park to nine consecutive games.
"I thought we started the first half really well and then they gained that momentum and we couldn't really get it back," Force skipper Jeremy Williams told Stan Sport post-game.
"We had poor discipline and probably turned the ball over too easily and that's the second week in a row we've done those things.
"Against a quality side like the Drua, you're going to pay and we did."
Simon Cron’s side got off to a flyer after their defensive line speed forced an early Drua error that saw Mac Grealy collect a loose pass and storm downfield.
Jeremy Williams quickly recycled down the blindside to pave way for a Henry Robertson snipe and offload that saw Tomkinson score untouched inside the opening three minutes.
The Force went on to dominate much of the opening 30 minutes despite the Force losing Henry Robertson to the sin bin after 17 minutes for a professional foul on rival halfback Philip Baselala.
Yet the slow start paid off for Drua fans with Baselala eventually opening their account on the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion.
Held-up by a desperate Force maul defence, the Fijians struck from the ensuing goal-line drop out with Iosefo Masi and Ponipate Loganimasi combining like the Harlem Globetrotters out wide before feeding their unmarked halfback on the inside to score.
Four minutes later, the Fijians were over again after a speculative chip and chase from Armstrong-Ravula under penalty advantage was picked up by Masi to dive over untouched.
A penalty on the stroke of half time saw the Drua lead 17-7 but that was further stretched when Taniela Rakuro broke free shortly inside his own 22m to set up Canikavita’s first try after 49 minutes.
The game was all but over when Canikavita bagged his second try to put the Fijians ahead 31-7 with 14 minutes to play before Ravutaumada rubbed salt into the Force’s wounds with a late try of his own.
Fijian Drua 38 (Canikavita 2, Baselala, Ravutaumada, Masi tries, Muntz 3, Armstrong-Ravula 2 cons; Armstrong-Ravula pen) def Western Force 7 (Tomkinson try, Harford con)
DRUA (1-15): Haereiti Hetet, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Isoa Nasilasila, Etonia Waqa, Isoa Tuwai, Elia Canakaivata, Philip Baselala, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Taniela Rakuro, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Iosefo Masi, Ponipate Loganimasi, Selestino Ravutaumada
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Leone Rotuisolia, Kitione Salawa, Leone Nawai, Inia Tabuavou, Caleb Muntz
FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Kane Koteka, Reed Prinsep; Henry Robertson, Alex Harford, Mac Grealy, Reesjan Pasitoa, Sio Tomkinson, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Atu Moli, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Sam Carter, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Ben Donaldson, George Poolman
Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan
