Action from the IRB Pacific Nations Cup curtain raiser match between the Fiji Warriors and Papua New Guinea at Lautoka's Churchill Park. Fiji won 41-5.

The Air Pacific Fiji Warriors scored seven tries to come away with a convincing 41-5 win over a determined Papua New Guinea outfit in a one-off match at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on Saturday.
 
Flanker Ameniasi Nava and prop Setefano Somoca contributed two tries each in the win.
 
The Warriors led 14-5 at half-time before dominating the second half, running in five more tries to seal the win. The other try-scorers for Fiji were Nemia Kenatale, Tikiko Uluiviti, and Mosese Volavola.
 
Centre Chris Hogi slotted the lone try for the visitors in the 21st minute of play, but PNG went home in the knowledge that they had played some well-structured rugby and had pushed their more experienced hosts for much of the first half.
 
 
Quotes:

Ifereimi Tawake (Air Pacific Fiji Warriors coach):
“I am happy with the boys’ performance today. There was a lot of improvement compared to the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup.”
 
“Ameniasi Nava and Setefano Somoca were impressive today and I have asked head coach Ilivasi Tabua to review their performances and if possible draft them into the Flying Fijians team.”
 
Billy Rapilla (Papua New Guinea coach):
“We had a great start in the first half because we fielded a strong side but we failed to maintain the rhythm in the second half.”
 
“We lost to a better team. This is our first game in Fiji and I felt though we lost it was a great lesson in rugby. I believe my boys will go away from Fiji after this having picked up pointers to better their rugby. Now, we’ll go back and try to implement this in our game as we prepare for the FORU tournaments.”
 
 
Saturday 7 June 2008
Fiji Warriors 41 Papua New Guinea 5
IRB Pacific Nations Cup R1 Curtain Raiser
Half-time: 14-5
Referee: Sione Tanoa
Att: 3,000
 
FIJI WARRIORS: 15 Isimeli Koniferedi (Apisalome Waqatabu 41), 14 Epeli Vuicuvu (Vuniani Ratu 58), 13 Ropate Ratu, 12 Tikiko Uluiviti, 11 Vima Tuidraki, 10 Ravai Fatiaki, 9 Nemia Kenatale (Waisale Vatuvoka 54), 8 Aca Bibi, 7 Ameniasi Nava, 6 Mitieli Cama (Mosese Volavola 42), 5 Mosese Vasuitoga (Rupeni Nasiga 52), 4 Samuela Anise, 3 Setefano Somoca, 2 Viliame Veikoso (Navi Bolatagici 63), 1 Sakeo Latianara (Tiko Matawalu 55)
Coach: Ifereimi Tawake
Tries: Nava (2), Somoca (2), Kenatale, Uluiviti, Volavola; Conversions: Koniferedi (2), Fatiaki
 
PNG: 15 Jack Marama, 14 Roland Namo, 13 Chris Hogi, 12 Raymond Romalus, 11 Gina Ponda, 10 Douglas Guise, 9 Lawrence Acanufa (Julius Taunao 64), 8 George Hoki (Eremas Simba 68), 7 Alistair Mclay, 6 Daniel Kulmat (Ralph Pombi 68), 5 Aaron Miai (Charles Maips 61), 4 Willie Rikis (capt), 3 Adrian Dixon (Solomon Joseph 68), 2 Wesley Thomas (Umba Ben 51), 1 Donny Marta (Moses Kako 61)
Coach: Billy Rapilla
Try: Hogi
 
Scoring Sequence (Fiji Warriors’ points shown first):
13min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Nava; conversion Koniferedi – 7-0
21min – TRY PNG, Hogi; conversion Guise (missed) – 7-5
35min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Kenatale; conversion Koniferedi – 14-5
Half-time
42min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Uluviti; conversion Fatiaki (missed) – 19-5
52min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Somoca; conversion Fatiaki (missed) – 24-5
60min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Volavola; conversion Fatiaki – 31-5
63min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Nava; conversion Waqatabu (missed) – 36-5
75min – TRY FIJI WARRIORS, Somoca; conversion Waqatabu (missed) – 41-5
Full time