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 TEIVOVO.COM – SULLIVAN-FAREBROTHER TROPHY
Saturday 14 October 2006
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| Who's next? Naitasiri enjoyed the mud bath to keep the trophy |
Naitasiri dump Lautoka for third successive defence
By William Tabuya
Naitasiri sent out a stern warning to the remaining Sullivan Farebrother challengers on Saturday after romping to a 22-6 defeat of Lautoka at a muddy Ratu Cakobau Park.
The win made it three in the bag for the Highlanders, who had defeated Tailevu 29-11 and Navosa 18-13 in earlier challenges.
Next up are Nadi, then Suva, Nadroga and Ovalau.
The tale of the tape would have been a good preview of this high intensity match. Naitasiri had been undefeated in the Sanyo Cup before they fell to Nadroga in the semi-finals while Lautoka had not only failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, but managed only four wins in 11 rounds.
Naitasiri’s influential captain Senirusi Seruvakula was thankful to his teammates for sticking to the game plan and also doing their vanua proud.
“We had bigger forwards and we decided to take Lautoka on.” Seruvakula said. "Although they were a good team, they were not able to counter our forwards."
The curtain-ra
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| Sensational... Seruvakula gets used to the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy |
iser – the B-Division Final – left a grand, muddy pit for the two rugby giants to do battle for the coveted trophy.
The visitors opened the score sheet eight minutes when young fullback Iliesa Nalawaniavi split the uprights.
Then the fireworks began for Naitasiri when strongman Seruvakula decided to take on Lautoka head on. The captain rampaged up the midfield from his own half, bouncing off three defenders before taking two more onto the ground. A rolling maul began and that was it for the Maroons, who could not prevent the try to nippy halfback Asaeli Naiteqe. Saula Rabaka found the uprights as Naitasiri claimed the lead 7-3.
Lautoka threw everything at Naitasiri in the remainder of the half but the black wall of defence stood tall to turn back the Sugar City side's scoring chances.
Rabaka added a penalty goal to keep his side in a slender 10-3 lead at the breather.
Lautoka came on strong in the second spell and Nalawaniavi closed the gap to 6-10. But Naitasiri, with fresh legs on the paddock, wore out the visitors and dominated the last quarter.
On the stroke of the hour, Naitasiri collected their second try with a classic Seruvakula-led rolling maul that allowed him to touch down.
Lautoka’s defence seemed to crumble as they scrambled in the mud to keep the Naitasiri attack at bay. At the end, Naitasiri substitute Jo Nakaira capitalized on the tired Lautoka pack to score the last try behind the posts.
Saturday 14 October 2006
Naitasiri 22 Lautoka 6
Sullivan Farebrother Trophy
Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori
Half-time: 10-3
Referee: Sairusi Tagivetaua
Crowd: 4,500
NAITASIRI: 15 Joseva Satini, 14 Paula Tiko, 13 Peni Naulivou, 12 Pio Raitoni (Jo Nakaira 72), 11 Nemani Vecanayawa, 10, Saula Rabaka, 9 Asaeli Naiteqe (Valerio Racika 70), 8 Senirusi Seruvakula (capt), 7 Jokini Sivo (Wavisalome Kena 77), 6 Sairusi Rokosalu (Nikolai Baleitamavua 64), 5 Serevi Kubu, 4 Sanivalati Vunibola, 17 Maseikula Gaunavou (Jale Koroi 65), 2 Vereniki Sauturaga, 1 Amani Takayawa (Isei Colati 72)
Not used: Seveteo Warai
Tries: Naiteqe, Racika, Seruvakula; Conversions: Rabaka (2); Penalty goal: Rabaka
LAUTOKA: 15 Iliesa Nalawaniavi, 14 Alipate Tunalai, 13 Vuniani Koroitamana, 12 Atunaisa Tawake, 11 Tevita Sadiri, 10 Mesake Beranaliva (Jo Yalimaitoga 72), 9 Emosi Tavutu (Penaia Limavatini 54), 8 Jerry Ratu (capt), 7 Ropate Senikuruciri, 6 Ifereimi Naruma (Laisenia Tora 64), 5 Solomone Nala, 4 Ponipate Qio (Seniasa Senivau 75), 3 Samuela, 2 Manasa Sevu (Jemesa Balicuvu 60), 1 Sikeli Nasau
Not used: Taniela Rawaqa
Penalty goals: Nalawaniavi (2)
Scoring sequence (Naitasiri’s scores shown first)
8min – PEN GOAL LAUTOKA, Nalawaniavi – 0-3
16min – TRY NAITASIRI, Seruvakula; conversion Naiteqe – 7-3
21min – PEN GOAL NAITASIRI, Naiteqe – 10-3
Half-time
42min – PEN GOAL LAUTOKA, Nalawaniavi (missed) – 10-3
46min – PEN GOAL LAUTOKA, Nalawaniavi – 10-6
60min – TRY NAITASIRI, Seruvakula; conversion Rabaka (missed) – 15-6
79min – TRY NAITASIRI, Nakaira; conversion Rabaka – 22-6
Full-time
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