|
|
|
 TEIVOVO.COM – SULLIVAN-FAREBROTHER TROPHY
Tuesday 31 October 2006
Provincial rugby’s biggest clash
Billed as the biggest and most widely anticipated clash in Fijian provincial rugby, the winners of this Saturday's Sullivan-Fareborther challenge between holders Naitasiri and Sanyo Cup champions Nadroga will be able to call themselves the true champions.
The teams have met twice already this season. In round one of the Sanyo Cup, a young and inexperienced Naitasiri side stunned Nadroga at Lawaqa Park 24-18.
Speaking after that loss, Nadroga skipper Tiko Matawalu had no excuses for his side’s performance.
“We prepared well for that game but full credit to Naitasiri, we’ve never had an easy game against them, they’re always going to be a tough team to beat and so it proved this afternoon,” Matawalu said.
The Naitasiri side drew enough confidence from that victory to proceed unbeaten through the 11 rounds of the Sanyo Cup to top the competition standings.
However, in the semi-finals, Matawalu and his team-mates, all the wiser after that first round loss, were ready for the unbeaten Highlanders. The battle that ensued at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori has gone down as one of provincial rugby’s classic encounters.
Down 14-0 at half-time Naitasiri clawed their way back into the game in the second half to level proceedings 14-14. Then, in the dying minutes of the game, fly-half Saula Rabaka had the chance to give the Highlanders a grand finish with a penalty goal.
His kick missed, bouncing back off the upright, and the game was sent into extra-time where a Neumi Nanuku try sealed the game for Nadroga.
For Naitasiri skipper, Senirusi Seruvakula, the loss has been a driving factor in his side’s determination to retain the Farebrother trophy through the season.
“Since that loss, we’ve been waiting for this game to come around," he said. "We need to prove to ourselves and to our fans that we should have won the Sanyo Cup and this Saturday we’ll settle that score once and for all.”
But Naitasiri are likely to start as underdogs against a Nadroga side bristling with talent, with many national reps or on the verge of national selection – players such as Apisai Turukawa, Tiko Matawalu, Etonia Naba, Emosi Vucago, Mosese Volavola, Jeremaiya Tuilevu, Josefa Domolailai... the list goes on.
“Whatever side they put out it’s going to be a strong side,” Seruvakula said. "There’s no two ways about it, we’ve just got to knuckle down to business because at the end of the day its just 15 men against 15 men.”
Under the stewardship of coach Joji Rinakama, Nadroga have this season claimed the BP Provincial 7s Series, the Colonial Cup (as the Stallions), the Sanyo Cup and the Taiwan Cup at the Double Ten 7s earlier in October.
Should they claim the Farebrother this Saturday then their domination of provincial rugby in 2006 will be complete.
Sullivan-Farebrother main page |
|
|
