Naitasiri dominates Capital City side at home
NAITASIRI dominated Suva to come away with a 27-10 win during their Skipper Cup clash at Bidesi ground in Suva yesterday.
Naitasiri mentor Ilaitia Tuisese Junior said they had come with one aim to topple the points leaders and they achieved that tremendously.
“We prepared for this and we had to come hard. Suva is the Skipper Cup champion and its a step for us in the right direction,” Tuisese said.
With two more rounds left, Tuisese said it was not over yet and the mission of winning the tournament was still forefront.
“It has been awhile since Naitasiri has come this far and it is not over until we put the Skipper Cup trophy in the cabinet.”
Suva manager Nemani Tuifagalele said it was a hard fought contest but the better team won on the day.
“The scoreboard speaks for itself, its not what we expected but congratulations to Naitasiri and it allows us to go back to the drawing board and rectify the problems that we have seen today,” said Tuifagalele.
It was a kicking show in the opening stanza with all points coming from the boot. Naitasiri fullback Etonia Rokotuisawa kicked four successful penalties to Suva’s one kicked by fly half Jone Manu to send the home side to half time with a 9-3 lead.
The Highlanders came out possessed in the second spell adamant on maintaining their lead.
Naitasiri steelman Tomasi Naiduki notched the first try of the game of a pick and drive crashing over by the sticks with Rokotuisawa converting.
Suva retaliated almost immediately after a quick tap from Elia Canakaivata on Naitasiri’s five metre found him hard to stop that far out to score.
Suva fullback Enele Malele added the conversion closing the deficit to 17-10.
The Suva pack seemed rattled as they found themselves tested for the first time this season finding themselves unable to click with the slippery ball.
Even Suva’s signature scrum found itself wanting as the black pack overturned the table during the set piece.
The defending champion gave away a silly penalty playing the ball in the ruck right in front of the sticks with Rokotuisawa making them pay 63 minutes in.
Naitasiri were unravelled by the power packed Capital City side as they looked to secure their win and secure they did with Flying Fijians lock forward Chris Minimbi exploiting an overlap from a tiring blue defence to score a second try which was unconverted.
Rokotuisawa added the cherry on top with his fifth successive penalty racking a personal tally of 17 points.
Naitasiri: 1.Joeli Veitayaki 2.Seremaia Naureure 3.Solo Navuso 4.Temo Raibevu 5.Chris Minimbi 6.Necani Nawaqadau 7.Tomasi Naiduki 8.Sireli Kaloucava 9.Jone Navuso 10.Tuidraki Samusamuvodre 11.Tomasi Vula 12.Epeli Ratabacaca 13.Kaliova Mocetadra 14.Baleca Raulo 15.Etonia Rokotuisawa. Reserves: 16.Jone Vatukela 17.Josua Qaduadua 18.Immanuel Naciva 19.Esikia Macu 20.Alivate Karalo 21.Viliame Matai 22.Saula Naicori 23.Kini Douglas
Suva: 1. Meli Tuni 2. Lino Vasuinadi
3. Manasa Saulo 4. Izzy Israel 5. Sorovakatini Tuifagalele 6. Elia Canakaivata 7. Taniela Sadrugu 8. James BrownPolice 9. Leone Nawai 10. Jone Manu
11. Keponi Paul 12. John Stewart 13. Apisalome Vota 14. Misaele PeteroCovenant, 15. Enele Malele. Reserves:
16. Penaia Cakobau 17. Sireli Ledua 18. Vesi Rarawa 19. Peni Tuiteci 20. Osea Bolawaqatabu 21. Jo Vesikara 22. Sireli Maqala 23. Setareki Raoba