Missed opportunities and recurring ball-handling errors cost the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua their match against the Crusaders side in Suva yesterday losing 14 – 31.
Despite this, Head Coach Glen Jackson said he is still hopeful his young side can still achieve good results this season with more games to go.
“Yes there were those balls we shouldn’t have lost, opportunities we didn’t take mistakes that kept us from scoring more points but I still think the boys tried hard against a classy side like the Crusaders.”
In the first half, the visitors kept the Fijian Drua scoreless after they managed to run in three tries to Noah Hotham, Antonio Shalfoon and Chay Fihaki. Taha Kemara slotted one conversion and the men from the South Island of New Zealand led 17 nil at the halftime.
Macca Springer and Ioane Moananu ran in two more tries in the 2nd half before Sikeli Rabitu showed his brilliance scoring under the posts in the 65th minute. A few minutes later, lanky Etonia Waqa scored another try.
Captain Tevita Ikanivere said the team would return to their base in Nadi and take a look at their performance against the former Super Rugby champions.
“We know ourselves, we will go back and analyse our play.”
The Fijian Drua travel to Dunedin this week and will face Timoci Tavatavanawai and his Highlanders team on Saturday April 12 at 7.05pm at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
