The Western Force’s maiden Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s semi-finals campaign has ended in heartbreak with a 25-14 loss to reigning champions Fijian Drua in front of a sell-out crowd in Suva.
Speedy Drua full-back Atelaite Buna was the difference with a hat-trick in the four-tries-to-one victory for the home side in front of a frenzied HFC Bank Stadium crowd on Friday afternoon.
The Force, whose lone try came from Tongan winger Siutiti Ma’ake, had led 11-10 at half-time and 14-10 in the 45th minute after Samantha Wood’s penalty.
But the home side rallied in the final half hour, with Buna’s 49th-minute try the catalyst before a Merewalesi Rokouono penalty.
It remained a one-try game at 18-14 until the final moments when Buna burst clear from her defensive half to score the decisive converted try to settle the contest on full-time.
The result sees the Drua qualify for the Super W Grand Final in Brisbane on Sunday 28 April against either the NSW Waratahs or ACT Brumbies.
Force captain Trilleen Pomare said: “I’m proud of our girls. We had our moments out there. I’m not going to blame the travel. We were in it until the 80th. We had our opportunities, we didn’t convert. But congrats to the Drua they always show up."
After a tight start, where both sides probed, it was the Force who went ahead with an 11th-minute Wood penalty following Anasimeci Korovata high tackle on Natsuki Kashiwagi. Korovata was yellow carded for the high shot.
Despite the numerical advantage, the Force gave away two penalties in their defensive half, yet the Drua missed both, firstly Jeniffer Ravutia from 30m, followed by Rokouono.
The Drua, however, would score with 14 as Adita Milinia opened up play, allowing Buna to dive over in the 19th minute. Ravutia missed the conversion.
The Force restored their lead, up 6-5, in the 24th minute with a Wood penalty following a no-arms tackle from Ravutia on Nona.
In the 27th minute the Force moved ahead 11-5 with Ma’ake showing great game smarts to swoop on Vani Arei’s fumble within 10m of the try-line from Wood’s kick and score. Wood couldn’t add the extras.
Right on half-time the Drua crossed with Korovata forcing her way over. Ravutia missed the conversion, meaning the Force led 11-10 at the break.
The Force extended their lead to four points in the 45th minute after Wood’s penalty from 22m following a Drua offside.
There would be a fourth lead change when Buna burst clear down the right to score. Ravutia missed the conversion but the Fijians led 15-14.
From there, the game seesawed in the balance for the next 15 minutes, with Ma’ake losing the ball with a sight of the try-line down the left edge following Nona’s pass.
Rokouono’s 67th-minute penalty extended the Drua’s lead but the Force only needed one try to re-claim the lead.
Wood made a crucial try-saving tackle to deny the dangerous Buna after another mazy run, before Haylee Hifo almost got clear down the left in the final few minutes.
The Force had one final chance with a lineout from their attacking 22 but Misaki Suzuki’s throw wasn’t straight. From the resultant scrum, Buna raced clear to score and settle the contest.
Fijian Drua 25
Tries: Buna (19’, 46’, 80’), Korovata (40’)
Conversions: Ravutia (0/3), Kinita (1/1)
Penalties: Ravutia (0/1), Rokouono (1/2)
Western Force 14
Tries: Ma’ake (27’)
Conversions: Wood (0/1)
Penalties: Wood (3/3)
