The Wararahs’ finals hopes have taken a hit after failing to put away Fiji in Lautoka.
Despite having a mountain of possession and territory in the second half, the Waratahs failed to make the most of their chances and went down 28-14 after a crazy last passage of play denied the visitors a losing bonus point.
After Kemu Valetini missed a penalty attempt after the final siren, the Waratahs attempted to run the ball out from inside their goal.
It was a decision they would rue, as the ball was spilt twice before Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii picked up the ball from an offside position. Referee Paul Williams not only showed Suaalii a yellow card, but awarded the Drua a penalty try.
“Obviously disappointed to not even come away with a point at the end,” acting Waratahs captain Hugh Sinclair said.
“I’m not even sure what happened, to be honest.”
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar would have been losing his hair in the coach’s box.
Having clawed their way back from 21-7 down early in the second-half, the Waratahs moved to within a converted try when Julian Heaven dived over from close range in the 56th minute.
Jamie Adamson struggled in the humidity against the Drua at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
But a series of fumbles, poor kicks and some strong goal line defence, including a trysaving tackle on Sinclair on the tryline, meant the Waratahs left Lautoka without a point.
“We put ourselves into position in the second half, we had some opportunities but they were too good and turned us away,” Sinclair said.
“They played the positions well, there was a bit of free-flowing footy and that’s what they love.
“We fell off too many tackles in the first half, gave them a head start and we just couldn’t claw it back.”
The defeat was the Waratahs’ fourth straight loss on the road, while the Drua have now won eight straight matches in Lautoka.
Waratahs wrecking-ball Langi Gleeson stood out for the visitors, with the back-rower coming on midway through the first half for Charlie Gamble. But he was more of a lone ranger than anything else, especially with the Waratahs’ set-piece regularly letting them down in the opening hour.
The Waratahs trailed 13-0 early after a couple of penalties to Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and a try to Motikai Murray.
A try to Gleeson brought the visitors back into the match.
Their hopes of taking the momentum into half time were dashed when the free-running Ponepati Loganimasi scored out wide.
The Waratahs’ hopes of starting the second half quickly were hurt when Armstrong-Ravula banged over another penalty.
But the home side’s push stopped soon after as they continued to drop the ball in promising positions.
Meanwhile, the Waratahs, when they won a lineout, managed to make inroads.
Eventually Heaven scored to cut the margin to a converted try.
But the visitors wouldn’t post another point as the Drua managed to hold the Waratahs at bay, before the dramatic finish saw the home side deny their NSW opponents a precious bonus point.
The loss leaves the Waratahs in danger of dropping out of the top six, with McKellar’s men hanging on in fifth spot on 21 points. They will likely drop out of the finals mix next week when they have their second bye next week.
The Drua remain in 11th on 11 points.
