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 PACIFIC RUGBY NEWS
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Sunday, 20 June, 2004
Islanders warm up with win in Queensland
From Matthew Yarrow at Ballymore
A hat-trick of tries to Fijian winger Sitiveni Sivivatu saw the Punjas Pacific Islanders win their first tour match 48-29 against a Queensland XV in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon as Fijians dominated the scoresheet.
Seremai Bai, Norman Ligairi, Sireli Bobo, Lome Fa’atau and Taufa'ao Filise also touched down for tries, while Bai kicked four conversions. Of the four Queensland tries, three came from Island boys – Junior Pelesasa and Mafi Kefu.
For the Pacific Islanders it was a promising display in their opening hit-out. Both the forwards and backs played well especially in the second half with hooker Aleki Lutui putting in some great runs and Sivivatu looking dangerous whenever he had the ball. Bai also had a solid game at fly-half.
Playing in their first match together, the Islanders were a bit slow to start as players adjusted to new combinations. Yet they opened the scoring when Bai put Ligairi into a gap on 14 minutes with the fullback showing good speed to round his opposite number and score in the corner.
It took until the 23th minute for Queensland to get on the scoreboard with a try to Kefu; and the hosts hit the lead with a Pelesasa try in the 34th minute after the Islanders had lost their own line-out throw inside their 22.
Just before the break, Sivivatu scored the first of his three tries after good work from fellow wing Fa’atau; but Queensland kept their noses in front with a penalty goal right on half-time to lead 17-10.
The Islanders started the second half with more confidence and Ligairi was unlucky not to get his second just two minutes in when Sivivatu was judged to have put his foot into touch after a good break. However, Bai soon had the scores locked when he crossed close to the posts on 44 minutes.
The turning point came two minutes later: A great counterattack from Alfereti Doviverata led to Queensland winger Peter Hynes being yellow carded for a professional foul at the breakdown.
The Islanders used the one-man advantage well and scored three tries in the 10 minutes that their opponents were down to 14. Wingers Sivivatu and Fa’atau got one each, and Sireli Bobo scored soon after coming on as a replacement.
Pelesasa touched down for his second try for Queensland on the hour but the Islanders stamped their authority again with a try to replacement forward Filise. A brilliant solo effort from Sitivatu completed his hat-trick, then Hynes got a late a consolation score in the final minutes.
The Islanders have struggled all week with injuries and unavailability and had to make do with 21 players on the day. Down are Inoke Afeaki, Seru Rabeni and Aisea Tuilevu, while Semo Sititi is spending time with his family and Tanner Vili had to make a quick trip to Japan to sign a club contract.
Super 12 players Tasesa Lavea and Sione Lauaki are also out of the picture for now, though no word on loose forward Mosese Moala.
They now move to Sydney where they will play the NSW Waratahs on Friday.
Sunday 20 June 2004
Queensland XV 29 Pacific Islanders 48
Ballymore, Brisbane
Half time: 10-17
Referee: George Ayoub (Aus)
Touch judges: Greg Hinton and Geoff Action
Crowd: 3,000
QUEENSLAND XV: 15 Marshall Milroy, 14 Anthony Sauer (Nathan Stains 66), 13 Junior Pelesasa, 12 Tim Atkinson (Anthony Sauer 74), 11 Peter Hynes (yellow card 46-55), 10 Mafi Kefu (Brendan Gabbett 54), 9 Nick Berry (David Collis 66), 8 Luke Doherty, 7 David Croft, 6 Dan Leo (Darren Murphy 70), 5 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 4 Rudi Vedelago (Ben Mowen 54), 3 Anthony Mathison (David TeMoana 66), 2 Tai McIsaac, (Zane Hilton 70) 1 Nick Stiles (capt),
Coach: Adrian Thompson
Tries: Pelesasa (2), Hynes, Kefu; Conversions: Milroy (3); Penalty goal: Milroy
PACIFIC ISLANDERS: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Lome Fa'atau (Sireli Bobo 54), 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Mosese Rauluni (capt) (Steven So'oialo 73), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Alifereti Doviverata, 6 Filipo Levi (Tu Tamarua 62) 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4 Leo Lafaiali'i, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau (Taufa'ao Filise 54), 2 Aleki Lutui (Joeli Lotawa 70), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha,
Coach: John Boe
Tries: Sivivatu (3), Bai, Bobo, Fa'atau, Ligairi, Filise; Conversions: Bai (4)
Scoring Sequence (Queensland first)
14min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Ligairi; 0-5
23min – TRY QLD, Kefu; conversion Milroy; 7-5
34min – TRY QLD, Pelesasa; conversion Milroy; 14-5
37min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Sivivatu; 14-10
39min – PENALTY GOAL QLD Milroy; 17-10
Half-time
44min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Bai; conversion Bai; 17-17
46min – Yellow card – QLD, Hynes
50min – TRY Pacfic Islanders, Sivivatu; conversion Bai; 17-24
53min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Fa’atau; conversion Bai; 17-31
56min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Bobo; 17-36
61min – TRY QLD, Pelesasa; conversion Milroy; 24-36
66min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Filise; conversion Bai; 24-43
75min – TRY Pacific Islanders, Sivivatu; 24-48
78min – TRY QLD, Hynes; 29-48
Full-time
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