ANZ Marama Championship Match Report: Tailevu V Namosi

The Tailevu women’s rugby team came back strongly in the second half of the first round of the ANZ Marama Championship to level the final score against Namosi 19-all at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.

A tough clash between the two teams as Namosi led in the first spell 12-7,  but Tailevu head coach Laisiasa Matanisiga said the impact players made the difference in the second spell.

“I told the reserves, just try and lift the momentum of the match and play until the final whistle and I’m proud they did,” said Matanisiga.

“Even though we played comeback rugby but I’m proud of the girls because they are high school students and only three of them have been part of the team from last year and the rest are debuting in this game against Namosi.

“I thank ANZ and the Fiji Rugby Union for this opportunity exposing the players to another level of rugby competition.

In the 17th minute of the first spell, Namosi openside flanker Agnes Seru scored under the crossbar and converted by Wainikiti Vosadrau to take the lead 7-0. However in the 25th minute Tailevu inside centre Tokasa Muriceva scored and converted her own try to level up the scores.

In the 33rd minute, Namosi outside centre Lusiana Tareguci scored another try to take the lead to 12-7 before the halftime break.

In the second spell, Namosi wing Virisila Radovu their last try of the match and converted to extend their lead to 19-7. However  the ladies from Tailevu kept on pushing forward in their attack and scored two more tries and converted one to level the scores to 19-19 to the fulltime whistle.

Meanwhile in the Women’s U19, Tailevu thrashed Namosi 36-0. They scored six tries and converted three and led the first spell of the match 24-0.