PACIFIC RUGBY CUP RESULTS
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PACIFIC RUGBY CUP RESULTS
Nadroga brush aside Suva 35-15
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| A third succesful defense for Nadroga as they thrashed Suva 35-15. |
Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
MRecht Outrigger on the Lagoon Nadroga 35 (13)
Tries: Penalty try, Sakiusa Navaka, Emosi Vucago, Joeli Lutumailagi Con: Mitieli Nacagilevu (3) Pen: Mitieli Nacagilevu (3)
YC: Joeli Lutumailagi
Suva 15 (7)
Tries: Samu Bola, Epeli Ruivadra Con: Kaminieli Neiqisa Pen: Kaminieli Neiqisa
Referee: James Bolabiu
Kick Off: 3:31 PM
Conditions: Warm and sunny
Crowd: 4500
Much had been said during the week of the huge challenge Nadroga would face against a Suva side dripping with talent.
After Nadroga's titanic struggle against Northland last weekend many pundits believed all the capital side needed to do was turn up and the BSP Farebrother-Sullivan trophy would be theirs by the afternoon’s end. How wrong they were.
In the end Nadroga blew Suva away all the way back down the Queens Road with a humiliating 35-15 victory in a match which never really lived up to the great spectacle it should’ve been.
Nadroga opened their account in the eleventh minute as referee James Bolabiu awarded the hosts a penalty try after penalizing flanker Dale Tonawai for not binding and disrupting the scrum. Fullback Mitieli Nacagilevu made no mistake with the conversion to give the champions a 7-nil lead.
Expectant Suva fans turned up to see their big name players perform – but most failed miserably and top of the failure list was Nikolai Matawalu.
After an outstanding 2010 Pacific Rugby Cup tournament back in May, Matawalu has failed to live up to the huge potential he’s shown in most games since then, which includes his performances for the Flying Fijians during the Pacific Nations Cup.
Against Nadroga, Matawalu was poor with his decision making during the first half and his passing was shocking. To be fair though the naval officer did create Suva’s only try of the first half as he darted through the Nadroga defense and off loaded to flanker Samu Bola to score.
The teams went into the breather with Suva still eyeing glory being only six points adrift as Nadroga led 13-7.
However within the first ten minutes of the restart Suva’s fate was more or less sealed as winger Sakiusa Navaka scored within the first minute, finishing off a back line movement by dotting down in the corner. Then Emosi Vucago conjured a try of his own popping up from nowhere to dart through the Suva defense and score. Both tries were converted by Nacagilevu as Nadroga took a commanding 27-10 lead.
While Epeli Ruivadra’s try in the 74th minute did bring some respectability back to the score line for Suva it wasn’t to last as Nadroga underlined their superiority with a fourth try to outstanding centre Joeli Lutumailagi.
In recent games Nadroga’s second half performance has been poor, particularly against Naitasiri in the Digicel Cup final and Northland last weekend. Today though there were no issues as Suva were left shell-shocked.
Nadroga now look forward to welcoming Tailevu next Saturday as the next pretender to their crown.
Nadroga
1.Tiko Matawalu (c), 2.Seremaia Naureure, 3.Setefano Somoca, 4.Rupeni Nasiga, 5.Iliesa Ratuva, 6.Etonia Naba, 7.Semesa Gonevou, 8.Mosese Volavola, 9.Emosi Vucago, 10.Jonetani Ralulu, 11.Sakiusa Navaka, 12.Josaia Lotawa, 13.Joeli Lutumailagi, 14.Maikeli Mocetadra, 15.Mitieli Nacagilevu
Reserves
16.Seru Cakobau, 17.Penijamini Makutu, 18.Saimoni Vunilagi, 19.Aca Ratuva, 20.Epeli Kalou, 21.Paula Karatu, 22.Mesulame Soga
Suva
1.Alefoso Yalayala (co-cap), 2.Aseri Buli, 3.Dan Ligairi, 4.James Brown, 5.Leone Nakarawa, 6.Dale Tonawai (co-cap), 7.Samu Bola, 8.Ilitomasi Nawalu, 9.Nikola Matawalu, 10.Kaminieli Neiqisa, 11.Epeli Ruivadra, 12.Sevanaia Koroi13.Jo Nasilisili, 14.Epeli Vuicuvu, 15.Samisoni Nasagavesi
Reserves
16.Ravuama Samo, 17.Jo Levula, 18.Inoke Tuisese, 19.Aminiasi Nava, 20.Joeli Nabogikolo, , 21.Benedito Koroi, 22.William Saukuru
MAN OF THE MATCH:
MITIELI NACAGILEVU (Fullback – Nadroga) – Yet another young Nadroga player with wonderful raw talent. A tall upright fullback with safe pair of hands and the ability to break a tackle. Also possesses a good kicking game.
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Earlier Results
