Namosi retains Farebrother Sullivan Trophy
Namosi has managed to retain the prestigious Farebrother Sullivan Trophy after overcoming a strong Nadroga side 15 – 6 in a spectacular fashion at Ratu Cakobau park earlier this afternoon.
Nadroga brought the play to Namosi’s 22m zone and manage to keep it there within the first few minutes.
After numerous attempts of open plays followed by pick and drive from Nadroga trying to cross the try line, Namosi manage to hold their defensive line
Nadroga continues to apply pressure forcing Namosi to concede a few penalties early in the first round.
The drizzling rain and wet weather condition at Ratu Cakobau park caused a lot of sloppy play and errors from both sides.
Namosi came into the second half with more swift gameplay, turning the table around as they continue to take the pressure to Nadroga.
What happened
Just 2 minutes after kick-off Namosi conceded a penalty after a player came from the side in a ruck, giving Nadroga’s Apisalome Waqatabu the chance to kick for the goal and put Nadroga up on the scoreboard 3 – 0.
9 minutes later another penalty was awarded to Nadroga as Waqatabu extended their lead to 6.
Namosi forced Nadroga to concede a penalty after Nadro collapse the scrum within their 22, as Alivereti Veitokani of Namosi kicked it over to put them up on the scoreboard 6 – 3.
A scrum feed from Namosi in the 39th minutes followed by a well-executed play as Meli Nakarawa ran away in a clean break offloading to Esala Natoba who ran straight for the try giving Namosi the lead 8 – 6.
Right in the dying minutes, Nadroga brought the play up to Namosi few meters away from the try line, their forwards went to work pick and driving forward, gaining meters just as they were about to score the winning try when the ball was ripped away from them.
With the counter-attack from Namosi as Lepani Raiyala breakaway followed by their fast play and an offload from Veitokani to Meli Nakarawa who scored their last try to retain the prestigious Farebrother trophy 15 – 6.
In other Skipper matches Suva thumped Yasawa at Churchill park 51 – 3, Nadi upset Naitasiri in an intense encounter at Prince Charles park 14 – 11 while Tailevu beat Lautoka 31 – 12.