The brave Queensland Reds have fallen 31-5 to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka to see their Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season end in the semi-finals.
Harmony Vautau, Eva Karpani and Ava Wereta all demonstrated the grit and effort to the Reds’ play with big try-saving tackles.
The pacy Fijians seized their chances more clinically and turned a tight 7-5 lead after 24 minutes into a clearcut victory for their cheering home fans.
There was a turning point at the 38-minute mark. With the Drua down to 14 players because of a yellow card, the Reds set a 5m lineout.
Backrower Zoe Hanna made a clean catch but the drive was denied on the tryline and the score stalled at 19-5 until half-time.
Prop Karpani had no right to stop a Drua try just after the break. Singlehandedly, she shunted backwards and held up a Fijian attacker who only had to fall over the tryline.
It was the Drua who still scored first with 14 players to open the second half and the match drifted beyond reach for the visitors at 24-5.
The injection of prop Tanya Kalounivale in the second half gave the Reds fresh life. Her rumbling charges gave the Reds momentum.
On 67 minutes, the Reds took a tap penalty on halfway with Kalounivale turning her back on the defence to set a maul. Incredibly, the maul was marched 50m until Hanna was denied by being held up over the tryline.
It was a day of great pride for Kalounivale, the Black Ferns Test prop playing her first top-level match in Fiji with family in the crowd.
“Obviously, we are disappointed to not win and make the final,” Reds skipper Jemma Bemrose said post-match.
“I’m still super proud of the girls. We fought the whole season to get where we are and showed a lot of heart doing it.
“…and wow. The Drua are just an electric team to play. This is an atmosphere I’ve never been involved in before. It was an absolute privilege.”
Centre Wereta, fullback Vautau and the non-stop Bemrose made their marks while backrower Dillyn Blackburn made several strong ball-carries out wide in her most influential game of the season.
At moments in the match, you could see how effective the Reds’ tactics could be with short-passing exchanges and taking on the Fijians in the middle. At other times, there were good gains with the ball going wider.
The Reds try was the best example. The Reds built an attack before centre Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea put a perfect long ball in front of winger Charlie Brigstocke.
The long-striding winger beat two defenders with an eye-catching 40m finish to show her potential at this top level in her debut Reds season. Her first try as a Red is one she'll remember.
The Fijians fed on a rash of stolen lineouts in the first half to build their three try strikes for a 19-5 half-time lead.
The Reds kept probing and Bemrose all but scored on full-time. She made a superb 55m run to within metres of the line before being dragged down.
"The Drua are extremely powerful players and we were essentially playing against a national team," Reds coach Andrew Fraser said.
"We matched them in some areas, we saw glimpses of what our attack is capable of and we kept at it throughout which is a trait of this Reds team. Struggling to ignite off our set piece in the first half did make it more difficult.
"This program has come a long way in two seasons and the capacity to keep improving is exciting. Ava Wereta was excellent as she has been all season. You saw what Charlie is capable of with her speed, Harmony is a real player of the future and there are plenty of others too.
"Jemma has really developed as a captain and she keeps on working on the field."
The Fijians celebrated at full-time. They will host their first Super Rugby Women’s grand final next weekend.
FIJIAN DRUA 31
Tries: Kolora Lomani 2, Karalaini Naisewa, Atelaite Buna, Salaseini Railumu
Conversions: Varanisese Qoro 3
Def
QUEENSLAND REDS 5
Try: Charlie Brigstocke
Half-time: Drua 19-Reds 5
Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka
