(Reuters) -Fijian Drua recorded the biggest win of their two seasons in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday with a last-ditch 25-24 upset of reigning champions Canterbury Crusaders.
Waikato Chiefs and ACT Brumbies meanwhile continued their 100 percent starts to the campaign.
For the Fijians, debutant replacement flyhalf Kemu Valetini slotted the winning penalty from in front of the posts with 80 minutes already up on the clock after a topsy-turvy match played in stifling heat in Lautoka.
Hammered 61-3 by the 13-times Super Rugby champions in their only previous meeting in May last year, the Drua went 12-0 down early on and had trailed 24-22 with seconds to go.
“It was unreal today, it was epic,” said Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere. “The boys came out in the second half firing and we did the job, we got the win.
“We had the belief we could do it and we came and defeated a great Crusaders team. And what better way to do it than in front of our home crowd.”
Chiefs ensured a full haul of 15 points after three games of the season as they defeated Otago Highlanders 28-7.
It was an error-strewn performance by the Chiefs, but they were barely put under pressure and scored tries via a brace from fullback Shaun Stevenson, and one each for wing Etene Nanai-Seturo and loose-forward Samipeni Finau.
“That first 50 minutes was a real arm wrestle,” Chiefs captain Sam Cane said. “They defended extremely well, forced us into mistakes and we just couldn’t quite get enough points on the board for the possession that we had.”
ACT Brumbies also claimed a third successive win with a 23-17 victory over Queensland Reds.
The Brumbies led 13-0 at halftime but the introduction then of experienced Reds flyhalf James O’Connor brought the visitors back into the contest.
Two tries from fullback Jordan Petaia had them within six points, but the Brumbies held on.
Auckland Blues made the most of a dominant first half to secure a 25-19 victory at Wellington Hurricanes, inflicting a first defeat of the season on their hosts.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu, wing Caleb Clarke and number eight Hoskins Sotutu scored tries for the Blues, who took advantage of an ill-disciplined Hurricanes side that lost Isaia Walker-Leawere to a first half yellow card and might have had him see red for a second poor clean-out at a ruck.
Melbourne Rebels claimed a first win of the season with a 34-27 victory over New South Wales Waratahs.
The home side scored five tries to three and were boosted by an excellent display from young flyhalf Carter Gordon, who bagged their final score.
Bryce Hegarty kicked a 83rd minute penalty as 13-man Western Force beat Moana Pasifika 21-18.
Force made heavy weather of it with three yellow cards in the game, while their was also a 46th minute red card for Moana’s Mike McKee.
After edging the first half 15-13, Moana ran out of steam in the second and conceded a scrum penalty in front of their posts after the hooter, allowing Hegarty to win the game for the home side.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney and Nick Said; Editing by William Mallard and John Stonestreet$)
