The ACT Brumbies have kept their perfect SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific record against the Fijian Drua intact after running out 38-21 victors in Canberra.
A Len Ikitau treble proved the difference in Friday night’s high-octane clash with the Wallabies centre scoring twice before half time and icing his hat-trick in the 51st minute.
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Ikitau’s third pushed the margin to 33-21 after the Drua’s earlier two-try punch after oranges but the visitors never went away at GIO Stadium.
It took a Luke Reimer 75th minute try-line turnover to eventually seal the win before the Wallabies fetcher scored up the other end late to twist the knife with a crucial bonus-point finish.
"That was probably the most pleasing part," Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa told Stan Sport post-game.
"I thought we started pretty well in the first half but then Drua capitalised on a couple of our mistakes. We probably got a bit loose there in the second half and they came in with those two tries but really proud of the effort there and getting that bonus point."
Ponipate Loganimasi and Tevita Ikanivere were outstanding in a losing Drua outfit while Charlie Cale, Tom Hooper and Tom Wright were among the Brumbies’ best.
The Brumbies and Drua traded blows like heavyweight boxers to open proceedings with Motikiai Murray and Corey Toole creating early chances under lights in Bruce.
A 13th-minute 50-22 from Andy Muirhead helped turn the tide ACT's favour but the Drua defence wasn't cracking easily as wave after wave of Brumby mauls were turned back.
It took a piece of broken play brilliance from Corey Toole to spark the first scoring play after 19 minutes with the former Sevens star scooting off his left wing to create space down the right flank for Cale, who in turn recycled quickly for Ikitau to crash through three defenders and over.
Three minutes later, Ikitau was involved again as a Muirhead turnover earned a lineout deep inside Drua territory with the Test centre and Tom Hooper carrying strongly to set up Ryan Lonergan's sniping try.
Trailing 14-0, the Drua needed a spark and found one in livewire Loganimasi.
The flying winger almost bettered his heroics against the Chiefs with a scything chip-and-chase through the Brumbies defence before forcing a soft penalty against Tom Wright's lazy arm.
Buoyed, the Drua went to their tap play and were instantly rewarded as Elia Canakaivata crashed over the cool Canberra chalk.
Their joy was short lived, however, as Ikitau banked his second try from close quarters before Wright made amends for his earlier mishap with a jinking run through the Fijians to send Muirhead over untouched for a 28-7 lead that held to oranges.
The second half looked destined to see ACT surge further ahead but a blistering Drua counterattack led by Murray and Ikanivere saw their lead swiftly pegged back to single digits.
It took Murray just two minutes to score after the break with Isikeli Rabitu and Loganimasi combining to put their flanker over before "Tex" Ikanivare latched onto a pin-point Isaac Amrstrong-Ravula chip behind the line that bounced wickedly past Wright.
Scorned, the Wallabies fullback made quick amends with a gliding run down the left flank before unleashing a hail Mary back to right wing Muirhead, who drew and passed for the ever-present Ikitau's hat-trick.
An 30-minute war of attrition ensued as the Drua scrapped their way back into the contest and threatened a fourth try before Brumbies super-sub Reimer finally sealed the victory.
Ikanivere went within inches of a second try in the 56th minute but couldn't ground in-goal from a powerful maul while Ikitau's 63rd minute turnover proved crucial in keeping the Dru at bay.
It had to be Reimer, of course, with the final say as the fetcher forced a 75th minute turnover on his own try-line before scoring the bonus-point try in overtime after a high shot on Harrison Goddard gifted the Brumbies a late chance.
ACT BRUMBIES 38 (Ikitau 3, Lonergan, Muirhead, Reimer tries; Lolesio 3 cons) def FIJIAN DRUA 21 (Canakaivata, Murray, Ikanivere tries; Armstrong-Ravula 3 cons)
