Another star in Fijian rugby has been unearthed after Ponepati Loganimasi scored an incredible individual try to help knock over the table-topping Chiefs in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.
Holding onto a narrow 18-17 lead in the 66th minute, the winger fielded a chip kick near the halfway line, broke through three defenders and chipped ahead for himself to score a stunning try and help put the Drua in control in front of a packed crowd in Lautoka.
Despite conceding a late converted try, it didn’t matter after the Drua controlled the final quarter of the match to secure their first win of the season, winning 28-24.
The brilliant second half, where they overturned a 12-6 deficit by scoring three tries, was the perfect response after three heartbreaking late defeats had left the Drua one of only two sides winless heading into the fourth match.
But playing at their fortress Churchill Park, the Drua sealed their seventh straight win at the venue.
“Special for this group because we could have won three games over the past three weeks,” co-captain Frank Lomani said.
“We built momentum but never got the win, but I think it’s about time we owe our friends and supporters that we win and do the job today.”
Meli Derenalagi scored one of three second-half tries for the Drua in their win over the Chiefs at Churchill Park on March 08, 2025. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
Asked what changed, Lomani, the livewire halfback, said his side simply delivered what they said they were going to do.
“The goal never changes,” he said. “We turn up every day to work hard to win. We were able to do what we said we were going to do. The boys brought the intensity today and it got us the win.”
The Chiefs, who increasingly struggled as the clash went on in the wet and humid conditions, struggled to play with the same polish and conviction without their magical playmaker Damian McKenzie, having suffered bone bruising during their win over the Brumbies a week earlier.
“The conditions were tough out there, we knew it would be tough to come here and play the Drua in Lautoka,” said Tupou Vaa’i, the Chiefs’ stand-in captain, who scored in stoppage time to ensure they left with a losing bonus point.
“We kind of lost our way after half-time, but I’m sure we’ll go back and refocus in time for the Blues next week.”
The Chiefs ran out to an early 12-3 lead thanks to tries in side the opening half-hour to Samisoni Taukei’aho and Jimmy Tupou, but Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula’s second penalty in the 35th minute kept the Drua in touch.
The Drua took an early lead in the second half when Meli Derenalagi crossed in the 42nd minute, but the Chiefs hit back quickly through All Blacks star and the competition’s inform centre Anton Lienert-Brown.
But it was then that the home side took control as winger Vuate Karawalevu continued his impressive start to the year by scoring at the hour mark.
Then Lautoka exploded as one as Loganimasi, the 26-year-old Olympic silver medallist from Paris, took the game by the scruff of his hands and burst through the middle to score a stunning try.
Armstrong-Ravula’s third penalty three minutes from full-time essentially sealed the deal, before Vaa’i’s late try meant they picked up an important bonus point.
