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 TEIVOVO.COM – SULLIVAN-FAREBROTHER TROPHY
Saturday 11 November 2006
Nadroga keep Farebrother for year
By Vela Naucukidi
After trailing 15-18 at the breather, the Stallions came back strongly to defeat Ovalau 27-24 on Saturday. The two teams produced well-fought game but Nadroga's superior fitness proved telling in the end.
A good crowd turned up to Lawaqa Park to witness the season's finale, and by 2:30pm the grandstand entrance was closed as tickets were sold out.
Though the hosts started slowly, they underlined their status as the best team in the country and now hold all the major trophies – Sanyo Cup, Sullivan-Farebrother Trophy, BP 7s, and they were part of the franchise that won the Colonial Cup.
Coach Joji Rinakama was confident from kick-off that the prestigious trophy would stay in Sigatoka. He thanked his army for the brave effort and said that a heavy load is on him now for next season.
“It’s easier to win it – defending it is tough, but nothing is impossible,” Rinakama said, adding that they should have piled up more points against Ovalau.
“We should have scored more points. Ovalau didn’t have much of a game plan but they managed to score points by capitalizing on our mistakes.”
But Ovalau coach Luke Vulo told Teivovo they managed to score points in the first few minutes because they stuck to their gameplan which was to commit the Nadro defenders inside and not open up the game.
The Stallions had more experience playing at the top level but Ovalau entertained the crowd with some heavy tackles and great rugby.
A minute before kick-off, Ovalau made a crucial late change that could have affected the overall performance on the field.
Reserve backline player Niumaia Turaganicolo was told to take off his jersey and hand it to forward Natui Bulivorovoro. So Ovalau had five forwards and two backs on the bench.
When coach Vulo was queried on the matter after the game, he could not comment much.
“I’m sorry I can’t say much because we (officials) had an argument over it just before the game started,” Vulo said. “It shouldn’t have happened because I had picked the team already and to make an adjustment at that hour is not on for the players.”
Ovalau executive Ballu Khan then explained the reason for the change.
“We had a long dispute over it because we found that the forwards were unfit, so we had to make the change,” Khan said.
In retrospect, the change could have proved costly because the replacement forwards did not have much effect on the game.
From the kick-off, Ovalau played at a high pace. They closed down Nadroga and brought the game in-field.
Former Fiji U21 rep, Peni Manumanuliwa, put on an outstanding performance, creating gaps for the Ovalau backs and making some big tackles.
Three minutes into the game, fullback Iowane Varani opened the scores with a beautiful try near the posts. He converted to give Ovalau the lead 7-0.
Nadroga replied with a try in the 14th minute. From a line-out inside Ovalau’s half, they opened up play that resulted in second-five Jonetani Ratu touching down.
Six minutes later, referee James Bolabiu judged Nadroga to be offside and the penalty was awarded to the visitors. Varani sliced the uprights to further the lead to 10-5.
Nadroga fly-half Jonetani Waqa found himself heavily marked. The general could not move the ball around fast enough and was brought down many times.
In the 23rd minute, he was caught in possession. Jo Sesevu kicked ahead and dived over for the try to put Ovalau further ahead before Varani picked up another three-pointer for a handy 18-5 lead.
Sesevu played a good game for Ovalau and looked confident when under pressure.
In the last five minutes of the first half, Nadroga scored twice from halfback Emosi Vucago and Ratu to take the teams into the break with the visitors ahead 18-15.
After the break, Vucago worked hard to put Nadroga into the lead for the first time with his second try with help from Jo Nagata and Etonia Naba.
In the 55th minute, Naba scored a try himself as Ovalau began to tire.
Ovalau slowed down and commited a lot of errors to give away possession. Varani added another six points with two penalties but Ovalau came up just short as the final whistle blew.
The Digicel Fiji 7s players that turned out for Nadroga played exceptionally well. They had opted out of the BP 7s series to help Nadroga defend the Farebrother. On his first touch of the ball, Waisale Serevi made a mistake with a forward pass to turn over the ball. And minute later Ovalau converted a penalty.
Etonia Naba used his speed in the breakdown and his strength to bust the defensive line. Fiji 7s captain Mosese Volavola broke through the brick wall formed by the boys from the old capital.
The young Napolioni Nalaga is another player to reckon with in the up-coming IRB World 7s series. He has great speed and can easily power past defenders.
Former national rep Isaia Rasila also came in as a substitute for Nadroga and used his experience well.
Saturday 11 October, 2006
Nadroga 27 Ovalau 24
Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy
Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
Half-time: 15-18
Referee: James Bolabiu
Crowd: 15,000
NADROGA: 15 Isimeli Koniferedi (Neumi Nanuku 46), 14 Napolioni Nalaga, 13 Ratu Naisa (Timoci Mule 24), 12 Jonetani Ratu, 11 Isoa Neivua, 10 Jonetani Waqa (Waisale Serevi 57), 9 Emosi Vucago, 8 Jo Nagata (Jim Volavola 56), 7 Mo Volavola, 6 Iliesa Ratuva (Jo Domolailai 71), 5 Mosese Vasuitoga, 4 Etonia Naba, 3 Paula Biu (Isaia Rasila 46), 2 Apisai Turukawa (Koli Masau 76), 1 Tiko Matawalu (capt)
Coach: Joji Rinakama
Tries: Naba (2),Vucago (2), Ratu; Conversion: Ratu
OVALAU: 15 Iowane Varani, 14 Lui Matavesi, 13 Peni Manumanuliwa, 12 Manueli Gade, 11 Penaia Vakaruru (Jone Dau 68), 10 Jo Sesevu, 9 Netani Koroi (Inosi Tuitai 68), 8 Vonivate Vateitei (capt), 7 Viliame Maya (Josua Kabulevu 46), 6 Niko Aisake (Iliesa Baravilala 46), 5 Langi Peters, 4 Keverieli Bulivorovoro, 3 Remesio Ravuiwasa (Sevuloni Debalevu 78), 2 Luke Moce (Kalivati Ratucicivi 40), 1 Sevuloni Debalevu (Maciu Vakaruru 40)
Coach: Luke Vulo
Tries: Varani, Sesevu; Conversion: Varani; Penalty goals: Varani (4)
Scoring sequence (Nadroga's scores shown first)
3min – TRY OVALAU, Varani; conversion Varani – 0-7
14min – TRY NADROGA, Ratu; conversion Koniferedi (missed) – 5-7
20min – PEN GOAL OVALAU, Varani – 5-10
23min – TRY OVALAU, Sesevu; conversion Varani (missed) – 5-15
30min – PEN GOAL OVALAU, Varani – 5-18
35min – TRY NADROGA, Vucago; conversion Koniferedi (missed) – 10-18
43min – TRY NADROGA, Ratu; conversion Koniferedi (missed) – 15-18
Half-time
45min – TRY NADROGA, Vucago; conversion Koniferedi (missed) – 20-18
55min – TRY NADROGA, Naba; conversion Ratu – 27-18
59min – PEN GOAL OVALAU, Varani – 27-21
70min – PEN GOAL OVALAU, Varani – 27-24
Full-time
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