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Fijiana Drua maintain unbeaten run by thumping Rebels in Suva
By
AAP
Fijiana Drua have made a statement about their Super W title defence with a thumping 39-12 victory over Melbourne in their clash in Suva.
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While they ground out a five-point win over the Brumbies in the opening round in Nadi, Fijiana were unstoppable on Saturday, showing off their full array of skills to run in seven tries.
It continues their unbeaten run since joining the competition in 2022.
While they were outclassed, the Rebels turned in a vastly improved performance after last week’s heavy loss to Queensland.
Victorian teenager Laiema Bosenavulagi earned the honour of their first try of the 2023 campaign, impressing with her stint from the bench to cross the line in the 61st minute.
Another memorable moment came in the 72nd minute when debutant Mia-Rae Clifford scored with her first touch, with a kick bouncing up into her arms for her to fall over the line.
Captain of the Essendon VFLW team, Clifford decided to test herself in the Super W this season and showed off her kicking skills by also converting her own try.
Drua’s Vitalina Naikore, who scored a hat-trick in last year’s grand final victory over NSW Waratahs, got her team off to the best possible start.
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The winger crossed twice in the opening 11 minutes, bamboozling the defence with her footwork and speed.
Relishing the tropical conditions, the home side played at pace to run in five tries in the opening half to take a match-winning 29-0 lead into the break.
Outside centre Vani Va’aga Arei also finished with two tries, scoring one in each half.
To Melbourne’s credit, they managed to stunt Fijiana’s try-scoring spree and won the second half on the scoreboard with their bench providing plenty of value.
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Rebels skipper Ash Marsters said her team struggled to get into the match, with their poor ball handling telling.
“Credit to the Fijian team because they really brought it to us in the first half but it was a good fight from our girls to come back in the second half,” the Wallaroos representative told Stan Sport.
“It’s good confidence, to see what we can do in the second half, and we need to build on that.”
Fijiana next play the Waratahs in Sydney while the Rebels host the Western Force.
