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A late try from Fijian flanker Motikiai Murray gave the Drua a 33-26 win over RFC Los Angeles in preseason action at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Friday. The historic first-ever clash between teams from Major League Rugby and Super Rugby Pacific provided no shortage of entertainment.
It was the visitors who crossed first, with Ben Sugars crashing over on the back of a driving maul just two minutes into the match. The Drua fired back when Kitione Salawa’s line break was finished by Isikeli Basiyalo, but LA regained the lead through Gonzalo Bertranou on a quick tap that put the Argentine scrumhalf in under the sticks. Christian Leali’ifano’s conversion make it 12-5 at the first water break. There was some concern for LA prop Conor Young who limped off with a leg injury.
The breather seemed to invigorate the home side as they quickly went through a long sequence of phase play ending with Tuidraki Samusamuvodre diving in to level the scores. Another lengthy attack put Mesulame Dolokoto in to give the Drua, but LA responded with a cracking try on the stroke of halftime. After winning a turnover at the lineout, the ball was flung wide to a flying Rory van Vugt, who found Tas Smith in support for a 75-meter team effort to leave it 19-all after 40 minutes.
As expected numerous replacements came into the game in the second half. van Vugt would grab a try of his own early to nudge LA ahead just after halftime, but the remainder of the scoring would go to the Fijians. Isoa Tuwai drove in from short range to again tie the scores heading into the final quarter, with Murray finishing off an advance out wide for the game-winner in the 75th minute.
The Drua begin their Super Rugby campaign on February 15 when they host the ACT Brumbies in Suva. LA make an immediate return to California to face the San Diego Legion next weekend, their final tune-up before their regular season kicks off against the New England Free Jacks on February 16.
| SCORING |
DRUA 33
Tries (5) – I. Basiyalo (9′), T. Samusamuvodre (22′), M. Dolokoto (36′), I. Tuwai (55′), M. Murray (75′)
Cons (4) – C. Muntz 2/3 (23′, 37′), I. Armstrong-Ravula 2/2 (56′, 76′)
LA 26
Tries (4) – B. Sugars (2′), G. Bertranou (14′), T. Smith (40′), R. van Vugt (45′)
Cons (3) – C. Leali’ifano 2/3 (15′, 46′), B. Meakes 1/1 (40′)
| TEAMS |
FIJIAN DRUA
1 Haereiti Hetet, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (capt.), 3 Samu Tawake, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Leone Ratusolia, 6 Joe Tamani, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Isikeli Basiyalo, 12 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 13 Iosefo Masi, 14 Vuate Karawalevu, 15 Sikeli Rabitu
Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Zuriel Togiatama, Livai Natave, Meli Tuni, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Emosi Tuqiri, Vilive Miramira, Meli Derenalagi, Isoa Tuwai, Motikiai Murray, Phillip Baselala, Peni Matawalu, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Inia Tabuavou, Aisea Tuisese, Taniela Rakuro, Jack Volavola
RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Alessandro Heaney, 2 Ben Sugars, 3 Conor Young, 4 Jason Damm (capt.), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Lucas Bur, 7 Ed Timpson, 8 Ben Houston, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Christian Dyer, 12 Nick Chan, 13 Matias Jensen, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Rory van Vugt
Replacements: Mike Sosene-Feagai, Ben Strang, Dane Zander, Lincoln Si’i, Mikaea Wynyard, Jurie van Vuuren, Tim Anstee, Matt Heaton, Semi Kunatani, Tas Smith, Billy Meakes, Seth Purdey, Jack Shaw, Robert Mapa
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, January 24
Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka
Kickoff: 15:00 local (19:00 Thursday Pacific, 22:00 Thursday Eastern)
Weather: sunny, 81°F (27°C), humidex 90°F (32°C), wind W 7-11mph (11-17 km/h)
