Ravaga hat-trick as Lautoka crush Navosa 21 May, 2011

Lautoka's hat-trick hero, Eroni Ravaga.

Digicel Cup - Round 9
Churchill Park, Lautoka 

Lautoka 60 (24)
Tries: Eroni Ravaga (3), Panapasa Namoko (2), Viliame Satala, Taione Ratu, Sakeasi Tuqalu, Apakuki Vuaviri, Asaeli Dautakau
Conversions: Moape Turaganikeli (5)
Navosa 10 (5)
Tries: Aporosa Yada, Orisi Qilai 

Referee: Mikea Rokodrakia
Weather: Sunny
Pitch: Firm 

Former Digicel Fiji 7s squad member Eroni Ravaga helped himself to a hat-trick of tries as Lautoka hammered an out of sorts Navosa 60-19. 

It was Ravaga who began the scoring in the fourth minute as he darted into the corner finishing of a sweeping backline movement which had begun from an attacking line-out for the Sugar City. 

The writing was on the wall for Navosa when Lautoka scored just six minutes later through scrumhalf Panapasa Namoko. From a five metre attacking scrum number eight Dominiko Nasilasila went blind and found the alert Namoko in support. 

Navosa’s chances were few and far between, though winger Isimeli Bua almost hauled Navosa back into the game in the 19th minute but was cut down just short of the line in a superb tackle from Lautoka fullback Iliesa Tora. 

In the 25th minute normal service was resumed when the Sugar City’s favourite rugby son, Viliame Satala, collected the ball from the line-out and stepped through abysmal defense to score Lautoka’s third try of the afternoon. 

The bonus point for the hosts came five minutes later when Taione Ratu collected a short pass from fly half Moape Turaganikeli to stride through from five metres out. 

Indiscipline from Lautoka lock Anasa Robanakadavu saw the Maroons reduced to 14 men and Navosa took advantage when scrumhalf Aporosa Yada scrambled through a pile of bodies, from a quickly taken penalty, to score and give the visitors the briefest glimpse of a comeback. 

The teams headed into the changing room with Lautoka in control 24-5. 

The second half began like the first with Ravaga scoring in the corner with the half four minutes old. While Ravaga took the plaudits for scoring the try it was centre Setareki Ritova who fashioned it, making the bust in midfield and then supporting to create the gap for Ravaga. 

Once again Ravaga’s try was followed by one from Namoko who scooted away down the far sideline to score his second of the afternoon. 

Turaganikeli, who had an ordinary day with the boot, missed the conversion but with the second half not even ten minutes old the game was all but over as Lautoka took a comprehensive 34-5 lead. 

With Navosa fading quickly, Ravaga completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes as he combined with right wing Mosese Taga and fullback Tora to bamboozle the Navosa defense on the near sideline and score under the posts. 

To their credit the visitors stayed in the game and were rewarded in the 68th minute with an Orisi Qilai try. However, further tries to Sakeasi Tuqalu, Apakuki Vuaviri and Asaeli Dautakau completed a comprehensive victory for the Sugar City and keeps them in with an outside chance of a semi-final spot. 

Lautoka
1. Penioni Ranitu (capt), 2. Iliesa Leca, 3. Isikeli Naqase, 4. Taione Ratu, 5. Anasa Robanakadavu, 6. Viliame Satala, 7. Apakuki Vuaviri, 8. Domoniko Nasilasila, 9. Panapasa Namoko, 10. Mopae Turaganikeli, 11. Eroni Ravaga, 12. Iliesa Salusalu, 13. Setareki Ritova, 14. Mosese Taga, 15. Iliesa Tora. Reserves - 16. Nabiau Satala, 17. Viliame Satala (Jnr), 18. Eneri Ratudradra, 19. Ifereimi Naruma, 20. Sakeasi Tuqalu, 21. Asaeli Dautakau, 22. Jale Loga
Navosa
1. Alifereti Bure, 2. Jone Selala, 3. Celua Lutunauga, 4. Iosefo Tania, 5. Kaminieli Waqa, 6. Bose Dakuliga, 7. Jack Volavola, 8. Agavito Sauvakarua, 9. Aporosa Yada, 10. Livai Navukula, 11. Jope Vocea, 12. Rupeni Naruma, 13. Orisi Qilai, 14. Isimeli Bua, 15. Lemeki Mataisau. Reserves - 16. Koroi Namudu, 17. Inoke Vocevoce, 18. Ilaitia Lalai, 19. Nacanieli Bose, 20. Lemeki Drua, 21. Joji Cokaibusa, 22. Sunia Tamanivalu.