The Fijian Drua have made it eight straight wins at Churchill Park with a 28-14 win over the NSW Waratahs.
The Drua were a class above as they dominated all aspects of the game.
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They commanded the first half to take an 18-7 lead but the Waratahs kept themselves in the game.
A second half try had them in the contest until the end before a penalty try after the siren left them leaving Fiji without a bonus point.
Unbeaten in five home games, the Waratahs not only remain winless on the road in 2025. Even worse, the Tahs have now suffered nine consecutive away losses for the first time since 1996-97.
Coach Dan McKellar had demanded a shift in mindset and for his charges to front up physically after heavy defeats in New Zealand to the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika.
But the NSW coaching staff once again lamented the Waratahs coming off second best in the collision stakes as the Drua enjoying 66 per cent of first-half possession to seize control at their Churchill Park fortress.
Already resting Wallabies forwards Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell and Rob Leota as part of Rugby Australia's rotation policy, and still without sidelined skipper Jake Gordon, the Waratahs weren't helped by losing three more players to injury in the steamy conditions.
Lock Ben Grant and flanker Charlie Gamble limped off after 10 and 20 minutes respectively.
Against the odds, the depleted Waratahs produced a gritty second-half fightback to threaten to send the match into golden-point "super time", as they did last year after battling back from 16 points behind.
Alas, the damage was done in the first half as the Drua once again held on in such extreme heat that the two sides were afforded a drinks break at the hour-mark.
Adding to their despair, the fifth-placed Waratahs conceded a penalty try after the fulltime siren to miss out on a precious bonus point as the Drua extended their unbeaten record at home to eight matches.
After two early penalty goals to flyhalf Isaiah-Armstrong-Ravula helpd the Drua to a 6-0 lead, the hosts ran in two tries. First, flanker Motikiai Murray split Adamson and replacement lock Miles Amatosero to stroll over in the 22nd minute.
Then prolific try-scorer Ponipate Loganimasi added to his tally in the shadows of halftime to give the hosts an 18-7 advantage after easily beating lame efforts from Adamson and his opposing winger Andrew Kellaway.
No doubt inspired by having dozens of extended family members in the crowd, powerhouse back-rower Langi Gleeson kept the Tahs in the contest with their only try just two minutes after replacing Gamble.
When replacement hooker Julian Heaven burrowed over in the 56th minute, the Waratahs had reduced the deficit to seven points.
But the visitors were unable to convert their momentum into a drought-breaking away win ahead of a bye next week when they could fall out of the top six.
Tries: Murray, Longanimasi, Penalty Try
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 1/2
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 3/3, Valetini 0/2
Drop Goals: Armstrong-Ravula 0/1
Tries: Gleeson, Heaven
Cons: Creighton 1/1, Edmed 1/1
DRUA (1-15): Peni Ravai, Mesulame Dolokoto (c), Mesake Doge, Isoa Nasilasila, Leone Rotuisolia, Etonia Waqa, Motikiai Murray, Elia Canakaivata, Simione Kuruvoli, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Ponipate Longanimasi, Inia Tabuavou, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, Taniela Rakuro, Isikeli Rabitu
Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Emosi Tuqiri, Samu Tawake, Vilive Miramira, Isoa Tuwai, Leone Nawai, Kemu Valetini, Selestino Ravutaumada
WARATAHS (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Ethan Dobbins, Daniel Botha, Hugh Sinclair (c), Ben Grant, Jamie Adamson, Charlie Gamble, Leafi Talataina, Teddy Wilson, Lawson Creighton, Triston Reilly, Joey Walton, Lalakai Foketi, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Replacements: Julian Heaven, Tom Lambert, Siosfia Amone, Miles Amatosero, Langi Gleeson, Jack Grant, Tane Edmed, Henry O'Donnell
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Referees: Mike Winter, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
