The Fijian Drua have made an announcement to start out their Tremendous Rugby Ladies’s marketing campaign, powering previous Queensland for a 32-21 win at Ballymore.
Champions for the previous two years, the Drua took each punch the Reds may throw within the grand last rematch, however proved too good with debutant winger Merewairita Neivosa the star of the present.
Neivosa created one attempt to scored two herself, together with the sealing effort two minutes from time as she once more flexed immense physicality to search out the road.
However the Reds would not be too disheartened after pushing the Drua to their limits.
They appeared near useless when Drua prop Ana Korovata powered over for a 22-7 lead on 54 minutes, after Vani Arei scored earlier within the half because the Pacific facet took cost.
However the Reds’ pack lifted and compelled a string of penalties, culminating in a penalty attempt to yellow card for Korovata for collapsing a maul that will absolutely have crossed the road.
Queensland took benefit of the additional participant, with younger substitute Shalom Sauaso slicing via to raise her facet to inside some extent, just for the Drua to throw a counter-punch and cross via Sulita Waisega.
And Neivosa’s sealer meant the Fijian staff may begin their celebrations a fraction earlier.
Drua captain Karalaini Naisewa stated her facet’s capacity to dump the soccer and continuously threaten the Reds’ line had stood out.
Her facet is looking for a three-peat, having been champions of their first two seasons within the competitors.
“Simply our construction sport, sticking to our construction and enjoying the Fijiana sport – that’s offloading and going ahead,” she instructed Stan Sport.
“Thanks to all of the supporters again at residence who’ve been cheering for us and supporting us all the best way.”
The Reds wanted to defend courageously to solely path 10-7 at halftime, after being unable to comprise Neivosa.
First, she broke the Queensland line and offloaded for flanker Teresia Tinanivalu to attain, earlier than shedding defenders at will and scoring shortly earlier than the break.
Excellent cowl defence from Reds fullback Lori Cramer was all that stored her facet in it, though they’d taken an early 7-0 lead via Tiarna Molloy as five-eighth Carys Dallinger pulled the strings.
