The match also marked the return of fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who fractured his neck while playing for Taranaki in the NPC last October. The 23-year-old produced three try assists in the match.
The Highlanders were content with kicking the ball to pin the Drua inside their half and their game plan was effective with constant errors letting the visitors down, especially in the first half.
It was a tough night from the start for the Drua, who knocked the ball on from the kickoff and the Highlanders capitalising with Filimone scoring with his first touch of the ball, inside two minutes.
Filimone added his second shortly after while it took the Drua 32 minutes to have their first attacking opportunity, and it took an outstanding one-on-one tackle from the Tongan international to keep the visitors at bay.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen scored his first of the season right on halftime to give the Highlanders a 17-3 lead at halftime.
Glen Jackson’s halftime talk must have ignited a spark under the Drua with Isikeli Rabitu scoring inside the first minute of the second half, although the Highlanders were quick to respond through Isikeli Rabitu.
That didn’t faze the Drua with back-to-back tries from Simione Kuruvoli and Ponipate Longanimasi which made it a four-point game.
With all the momentum, the Drua looked like scoring again, but a costly turnover eventually saw Kuruvoli sin-binned and the Highlanders capitalising with Jack Taylor scoring his first career try.
The Highlanders sealed the win with two late tries from Tanielu Tele’a and Sam Gilbert.
The Highlanders return to action away to the Chiefs, while the Drua return to their spiritual home in Loukota to host the Waratahs, both games on Saturday.
Highlanders 43 (Taniela Filimone 2, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Viveni Lasaqa, Jack Taylor, Tanielu Tele’a, Sam Gilbert tries; Cameron Millar 3 cons)
Fijian Drua 20 (Isikeli Rabitu, Simione Kuruvoli, Ponipate Longanimasi, tries Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula con, pen)
HT 17 – 3
