The Western
Force’s 2025 finals hopes are officially over after going down 38-7 to the Fijian
Drua at their home fortress in Lautoka in warm conditions on Saturday afternoon.
The Force
needed victory, ideally with a bonus point, to remain in finals contention and
were buoyed by a bright start highlighted by Sio Tomkinson’s third minute try.
But the
Force failed to capitalise on their early dominance before the Drua found their
groove with their expansive play to lead 17-7 at the break.
The Force gave up penalties and committed
errors, which didn’t help their cause as the Drua ran away with victory, with back-rower
Elia Canakaivata adding another two second-half tries as the hosts scored 38
points unanswered.
The result meant…