Lomax debuts as Force go down to Drua in thriller
Sebastian Tan |
Zac Lomax has been unable to inspire the Western Force to victory in his professional rugby union debut as they went down to the Fijian Drua 24-22 in a thriller in Lautoka.
The Ex-NRL and State of Origin star looked comfortable after coming off the bench onto the wing in the 60th minute before a raucous Fiji crowd, five weeks after signing his two-year deal with Rugby Australia with next year’s home World Cup front of mind.
Lomax registered 40 run metres and two clean breaks but did not get to enjoy a winning Super Rugby Pacific debut after five eighth Ben Donaldson missed with a long-range penalty attempt in the 80th minute that could have secured victory.
Saturday’s loss left the Perth-based side’s finals hopes on life support as they sit well below the sixth-placed Reds on the ladder.
“If we nailed a few other things, we could have won that game,” Force captain Jeremy Williams told FBC Sports.
“It was a tough game, a really physical game. We knew we were going to get that.”
For the Drua, they kept their 100 per cent winning record against the Force in Fiji intact, ending a three-game losing streak as winger Isikeli Basiyalo (102 metres, one try) starred in his competition debut.
Victory was doubly welcome for their fans after Cyclone Vaianu lashed parts of the tropical island earlier in the week.
“I know that results haven’t been going our way … I know how much this team means to the country,” Drua centre Virimi Vakatawa said.
“The only thing we can do is to come, play good rugby, and give back to the nation.”
After the Force’s Misinale Epenisa crossed in the 10th minute, the hosts responded strongly with tries to prop Haereiti Hetet and five eighth Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, before fullback Isikeli Rabitu scored in the 34th minute after some brilliant hands.
Trailing 19-7 at halftime, the Force cut the deficit when winger Dylan Pietsch strolled over before Williams wrestled across the line.
But, Basiyalo intercepted a Kurtley Beale pass and stormed down the field to give the home side some breathing room.
The Drua’s Ilaisa Droasese was handed a yellow card in the 70th minute and moments later Will Harris capitalised from a maul, but Beale missed a conversion attempt to equalise before Donaldson scuffed his penalty kick.
AAP