The brave Queensland Reds dug deep before bowing 32-21 to the two-time champions from Fiji when Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s launched at Ballymore Stadium today.

An enthusiastic crowd roared for the plucky Reds when back-to-back fightback tries within five minutes closed the scores to 22-21 just past the hour mark.

The Fijian Drua were bigger across the park yet it didn’t stop last-line defender Lori Cramer or winger Caitlin Urwin from chopping down attackers 15kg heavier on occasions.

In the end, the Fijians were more clinical in finishing off their chances and it didn’t matter if it was from long range or a barging run over the top of a willing Reds defender.

Winger Merewairita Neivosa’s second try with time almost up settled things.

The day was a highlight for the six Reds players making debuts and none more so than 16-year-old Shalom Sauaso, still a Year 12 student at Ipswich State High School.

Her entry to the game paid off after an ankle injury grounded impressive centre Mel Wilks.

Sauaso stepped into first receiver off a scrum in the attacking 22. She powered onto the ball, cut inside, stepped and plunged over with three defenders in her wake at the 62-minute mark.

Teammates engulfed her because it was a show of something special in her longer-than-expected debut in Super W.

School friends and family in the grandstand wreathed her in lolly leis after the match, a show of celebration in Pasifika culture.

Flanker Carola Kreis looked every bit the picture of a hard-working openside flanker with hair and strapping tape everywhere, a reddening tag mark on the thigh and spent from workrate.

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