Reds win 40-28 in Moana Pasifika's 1st home match in Apia
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hooker Matt Faessler scored a try in each half as the Queensland Reds broke an early deadlock and eased away to beat Moana Pasifika 40-28 on Friday in an eighth-round match in Super Rugby Pacific.
Flyhalf Lawson Creighton also contributed 15 points from a try and conversions of five of the Reds six tries.
In winning for only the third time this season, the Reds also spoiled an historic homecoming for Moana Pasifika who played for the first time in the Samoa capital Apia.
But if there was any consolation for the home fans it was that the local hero Miracle Fai’langi scored two tries for Moana. Fai’ilagi was picked for Moana Pasifika out of Samoa domestic rugby and hails from Vailele village, only a few miles from the stadium which was full of family, friends and supporters.
“I’m proud of myself and the boys for having this opportunity (to play in Apia),” Moana Pasifika captain Solomoni Funaki said. “The whole week was awesome, meeting the supporters and it’s great to be home in the Pacific.”
The Reds sought to quiet the home crowd early and scored in the 11th minute through backrower Fraser McReight, who was on hand to take a pass from winger Suliali Vunivasu. The Fiji-born winger had a major impact on the match, scoring an intercept try and creating other chances with his strong running.
Fai’ilagi lived up to his name with a miracle try two minutes later. He led a bold breakout from inside the Moana Pasifika 22 and combined with flyhalf Lincoln McClutchie whose return pass sent him across the Reds’ line untouched.
Faessler’s first try put the Reds ahead again but Moana leveled the score at 14-14 with a try to Danny Toala midway through the first half. The try was set in motion by Tomoci Tavatavanawai when the ball popped into the winger’s hands from a kick and his timed pass sent Toala on an unimpeded run to the line.
The Reds scored two more tries to lead 28-14 at halftime and another to stretch the margin to 33-14 early in the second half, leaving Moana to chase the game. Those tries went to Harry Wilson, who was a strong carrier throughout the match, and to Vunivalu, who dashed 50 meters from an intercept.
Faessler started the second half with his second try, from a lineout draw, then flyhalf Creighton scored and converted his own try to make the lead emphatic at 40-14.
The Reds lifted some pressure from their shoulders with the win which followed last weekend’s 52-24 battering by the ACT Brumbies.
“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks and I’m really proud of that effort,” Reds captain Tate McDermott said. “We’ll take some confidence going into the bye week and get our season back on track. It’s a baby step in the right direction.”
In the second match Friday, the ACT Brumbies moved into first place with a 43-28 win over the Fijian Drua. Winger Ben O’Donnell completed a hat-trick of tries in the late stages to embellish the scoreline.
The Brumbies improved to 7-1 on the season and lead the standings by four points over the Hurricanes and Chiefs, who play Saturday.
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