Moana Pasifika beaten by resurgent Reds in Apia

Moana Pasifika players.
Photo: photosport

Moana Pasifika remain winless in Super Rugby Pacific after losing 40-28 to the Queensland Reds in a historic match in Apia.

Moana – who comprise players from Samoa and Tonga – were playing their first ever home match in the Pacific but couldn’t beat a Reds side who scored six tries to four.

They trailed 28-14 at half-time and despite winning the second half, they couldn’t close the gap on a visting side who notched their third win from eight games in stifling conditions that Reds captain Tate McDermott compared to “Queensland in mid-summer”.

It was an open affair in which flanker Miracle Faiilagi scored the first try for Moana in each half, bringing a vocal home crowd to life.

The other tries wen to second five-eighth Danny Toala – before he departed the match with an injury – and Luteru Tolai, who crossed in the final minute as Moana finished the stronger of the two teams.

However, the home side paid for the concession of some silly penalties and for some wayward kicking in general play, in a game when they often looked dangerous when keeping the ball in hand.

Centre Levi Aumua was once again an enormous threat on attack, beating a game-high eight defenders while fullback Willie Havili counter-attacked with aplomb.

Suliasi Vunivalu was a constant menace on attack from Queensland’s wing and scored their fourth try on the stroke of halftime, which knocked some of the enthusiasm out of the home team.

Hooker Matt Faesseler crossed twice in a match in which the Reds forwards marginally held sway up front.

– RNZ