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 TEIVOVO.COM – SULLIVAN-FAREBROTHER TROPHY
Saturday 21 October 2006
Naitasiri dig deep to deny Nadi
By William Tabuya
After a nail-biting encounter at the National Stadium, Naitasiri emerged victors once more in the Sullivan-Farebrother Trophy challenge with a 28-25 victory over Nadi, who outscored their hosts five tries to three but missed every kick at goal.
Nadi have not been able to successfully challenge Naitasiri since 2000 when they last defeated them 9-8 at the same venue.
Naitasiri, who had earlier dealt with Tailevu, Navosa, and Lautoka, were relieved to keep the trophy after the grueling match.
“Although we prepared well, we thought Nadi might take the trophy from us,” Naitasiri’s vice-captin Asaeli Naiteqe said.
Nadi beat Suva in the semi-finals here a few weeks ago while Naitasiri lost to Nadroga in Nausori the same day.
“Nadi are a very strong team and we respect them, but they just did not capitalise on our mistakes. I am just happy we won,” Naiteqe added.
Nadi had many chances but Jo Tora was not having the best of days when he missed four conversions and three penalties, while fullback Asaeli Driu missed one of each.
The visitors settled in when they outmuscled Naitasiri in the rucks and mauls to scoop the first try to Varinava Rokoseba.
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| Keep it up... Former Fiji captain Esala Teleni congratulates the winners |
Naitasiri slowly got back into the game after Saula Rabaka registered their first points with a simple penalty.
Nadi were dealt a heavy blow when hooker Aseri Buli was yellow carded in the eighth minute for throwing an arm, and Naitasiri capitalised with eight points whilst he was off the field.
A strong bit of mauling forced the Nadi backline to join in and thus created a gap out wide. Paula Tiko made a feast of the opening in the defence to score Naitasiri’s first try for an 8-5 advantage.
Midway into the first spell, second rowers Serevi Kubu and Wame Lewaravu combined well to score try No.2 for Naitasiri. Lewaravu snuck through a sleeping Nadi defence before off-loading to Kubu who galloped in for the try. Rabaka converted to push Naitasiri into a 15-5 lead.
But the Jetsetters replied perfectly with two tries in two minutes.
The bigger Nadi forwards rallied well to pressure their counterparts before Aseri Tale dived over the line. This was quickly followed by a solo effort from Fiji 7s rep Vima Tuidraki as he out-sprinted the Naitasiri defence to the try-line. Jo Tora missed both conversions to leave the scores locked 15-15 at the break.
A pep-talk during the breather from coach Jiuta Ranubu pumped up the Naitasiri side. ”Our coach told us to discipline ourselves and focus on keeping the trophy, and just that we did,” Naiteqe said.
Naitasiri fullback Josefa Satini was called up after Saula Rabaka could not find the distance and he did not disappoint as he collected the first points of the second spell to lead 18-15.
Naitasiri sent in fresh legs which led to another try to prop Maseikula Gaunavou when another maul reached the try-line after the forwards opted to take their bigger counterparts head on.
Nadi came back strongly to score two tries and level matters at 25-25, but Tora failed again to collect the extras which could have seen the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy travel back to the West.
The home team snuck into a late 28-25 lead with a Satini penalty goal and held on to win.
Naitasiri takes on Suva next at the National Stadium next week before locking horns with Nadroga on 4 November.
Saturday 21 October 2006
Naitasiri 28 Nadi 25
Sullivan Farebrother Trophy challenge
National Stadium, Suva
Half-time: 15-15
Referee: Uraia Toribau
Crowd: 8,000
NAITASIRI: 15 Josefa Satini, 14 Paula Tiko, 13 Peni Naulivou, 12 Nemani Vecanayawa, 11 Nasoni Roko (Tieri Raitini 40), 10 Saula Rabaka (Semisi Muakalou 70), 9 Asaeli Naiteqe (Valerio Racika 66), 8 Senirusi Seruvakula (capt) (Senitiki Cakau 73), 7 Jokini Sivo (yellow card 37-46) (Nikolai Baleitamavua 70), 6 Senivalati Vunibola, 5 Serevi Kubu (yellow card 39-48) (Tokoni Luvu 70), 4 Wame Lewaravu, 3 Maseikula Gaunavou (Isea Colati 40), 2 Vereniki Sauturaga, 1 Amani Takayawa
Tries: Tiko, Kubu, Gaunavou; Conversions: Rabaka; Penalty goals: Rabaka, Satini (2)
NADI: 15 Asaeli Driu, 14 Vima Tuidraki, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Jope Nakete, 11 Aseri Latianara, 10 Jo Tora, 9 Lalai Driu (Kini Momo 73), 8 Jim Patrick (Viliame Seuseu 12-17, Mesake Davu 18, yellow card 48-57), 7 Aminiasi Nava, 6 Kelepi Ketedromo, 5 Apisai Naweilulu (capt), 4 Aseri Tale, 3 Meli Nabou (Savenaca Waqa 58), 2 Aseri Buli (yellow card 8-17), 1 Varinava Rokoseba (Solo Matanigasau 73)
Tries: Rokoseba, Tale, Tuidraki, Nasa, Naweilulu
Scoring sequence (Naitasiri’s score shown first)
4min – TRY NADI, Rokoseba; conversion Tora (missed) – 0-5
8min – Yellow card Nadi, Buli
10min – PEN GOAL NAITASIRI, Rabaka – 3-5
14min – TRY NAITASIRI, Tiko; conversion Rabaka (missed) – 8-5
18min – PEN GOAL NADI, A Driu (missed) – 8-5
21min – TRY NAITASIRI, Kubu; conversion Rabaka – 15-5
25min – PEN GOAL NADI, Tora (missed) – 15-5
29min – TRY NADI, Tale; conversion Tora (missed) – 15-10
31min – TRY NADI, Tuidraki; conversion Tora (missed) – 15-15
37min – Yellow card Naitasiri, Sivo
39min – Yellow card Naitasiri, Kubu
39min – PEN GOAL NADI, Tora (missed) – 15-15
Half-time
43min – PEN GOAL NADI, Tora (missed) – 15-15
45min – PEN GOAL NAITASIRI, Satini – 18-15
48min – Yellow card Nadi, Davu
49min – TRY NAITASIRI, Gaunavou; conversion Rabaka – 25-15
56min – TRY NADI, Nasa; conversion A Driu (missed) – 25-20
64min – TRY NADI, Naweilulu; conversion Tora (missed) – 25-25
67min – PEN GOAL NAITASIRI, Satini – 28-25
Full-time |
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