Nadroga win keeps hopes alive
ADESPERATE rally in the second half paid off for Nadroga as it staged a do-or-die comeback to snatch an 11-6 victory from Suva in their Fiji Rugby Union's fourth-round match at Buckhurst Park in Suva.
The brilliant display of quality rugby was highlighted in The Fiji Times on September 17, 1976.
Suva played as a pack during the earlier stages of the game with Pio Bosco Tikoisuva's kick getting the Nadroga men to move backwards constantly.
The game showed bright patches throughout the 80 minute duration, but constant rain marred what would have been an excellent display of open rugby.
Working with the style of a master tactician, Nadroga skipper, Meli Kurisaru kept his men together and anticipated the Suva moves to the dot, giving them the edge.
Nadroga halfback Isireli Batibasaga, was himself again as he continuously thrilled the crowd with his overall play, whipping out tremendously long passes which were handled well by first five, Dan Lobendahn.
The first try went to Suva after the ball went loose near Nadroga's 25.
The Suva forwards were on to the ball in a flash and played soccer with it as they dribbled it upfield.
Prop forward Vilikesa Rabukawaqa won the dash for the ball as it neared the Nadroga line and dived over for the easiest of tries.
Winger Rupeni Rabonu converted from an easy angle and pushed Suva ahead 6-0.
Nadroga hit back immediately after the kick-off and soon had the Suva defence in a desperate position as the Nadroga men passed the ball around and almost ran in a try before winger Latilevu was pushed out into touch.
Nadroga continued its assault on the Suva line, but good touch finding kicks by Suva first five, Bosco, had it going back time and again.
Nadroga loose man Rupeni Qaraniqio featured in many moves which almost had their fans in frenzy as they neared the Suva line, but good tackling by the Suva men held them back.
At the resumption of the second half Nadroga was once again on the attack
September 1
as it took complete control of the game dictating it to its want.
Then all of a sudden from a scrum, Batibasaga whipped the ball out to his blind side winger Latilevu who sprinted for about 20 yards before he was brought down by Rupeni.
But Latilevu had just unloaded the ball before he was tackled and the speeding Tuituba took the ball before he unleashed a gridiron pass to Senitiki Nasave who crashed over the line for a fine try.
Batibasaga's conversion went awry but the 6-4 score, had rekindled Nadroga's hopes of taking the game.
Suva tried desperately to notch up more points, but in less stymied at every turn by the ever vigilant Nadroga men.
Then just as Suva was beginning to come out on top, Lobendahn placed a loping kick over their heads and the charging Sikeli ran into them after he had kicked.
Suva was therefore penalised right in front of their posts and Batibasaga showing complete confidence just took a step and kicked the ball over putting them into the lead at 7-6.
Batibasaga once again initiated a brilliant move from halfway line which saw international Lobendahn sprinting for the corner flag with the Suva men hot
THE Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, has sent a message of condolence to the Premier of China following the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. The message says:
“We in Fiji have learned with great sorrow of the sad passing of your respected and distinguished leader, chairman Mao Tse-tung. He will forever be remembered for his long years of devoted service to the People's Republic of China and for the historic part he played in its development.”
September 2
METHODIST Church members have attacked moves to relax abortion laws and establish a national lottery. Proposals for both moves have come under fire at the conference of the Methodist Church of Fiji now in session in Suva.
The church's retiring president, Reverend Setareki Tuilovoni, said the two issues were currently the major ones facing the community.
September 3
LAUTOKA Taxi Union has supported a move by their Suva counterparts, who have written to the Prime Minister's Office asking that the Government scrap tax on taxi, private car and lorry fuel.
The Lautoka union's vice-president, Khalil Wazid, said yesterday the taxi industry was regarded as a “football and received no help from the Department of Transport, Government and the ministry concerned.
September 4 Suva’s lock Petero Civoniceva reaches up high against a Nadroga player at
Buckhurst Park.
FIJI has asked Papua New Guinea for the return of the body of Victoria Cross winner Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu and the request has been formally refused.
This was confirmed yesterday by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, George Kotobalavu, after a Home Affairs official was earlier reported to have denied that the return of the remains had been sought.
September 5
in pursuit.
Lobendahn managed to maintain his lead and took Rupeni over with him as he plunged over for the try which sealed Nadroga's hopes of being in the running of the FRU Cup with 'a 11-6 win.
A UNITE States Navy ship, the USS Abanaki, not the Fiji minesweeper Kikau, is carrying an injured Australian yachtsman and his family of three to Christmas Island.
This was confirmed yesterday by a Fiji naval spokesman following an earlier report from Honolulu that Kikau was directly involved in the rescue. “Kikau is not directly invoIved, but is on the scene,” the spokesman said.
September 6
FIJI will get $5.3 million in Australian aid during the next 12 months under a new three-year program to total $17.47m.
The Australian High Commission says $3.7m will go to projects nominated by the Fiji Government.
These cover housing, electrification, water supplies and jetties in rural areas, extension of the Suva water supply and sewerage system, and the establishment of beef farms.
September 7
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Nadroga halfback, Isireli Batibasaga, was himself again as he continuously thrilled the crowd with his overall play...
The Fiji Times
FIJI has been offered $58, 000 worth of wheat to be milled into flour and $500, 000 has been allocated for the training of people either locally or abroad.
The Australian High Commission says Australia will lend Fiji $1.2m to help to pay for the rebuilding of the Nadi-Suva road — part of a $2.7m loan being made at low interest.
September 8
PAPUA New Guinea has refused a request from Fiji for the body of this country's only Victoria Cross winner to be brought home to a hero's grave.
Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu died in action on Bougainville Island while fighting with Allied forces in World War II. He is buried in Bita Paka war cemetery, near Rabaul.
September 9
TWO well carried tries by New Zealander Kevin Glamer in the second half gave Kadavu the edge over a more disciplined Koro side to win 14-4 in the first game of the minor union competition at Buckhurst Park in Suva.
Kadavu took the initiative from the first whistle and was pushed back from the Koro line twice.
September 11
THE growth of the Hibiscus Festival in future years and to what extent it could be allowed to disrupt the normal life of the city of Suva would have to be considered, the Commissioner of Police told his news conference in Suva on Monday.
“I do not want to be a spoilsport, anything which helps charities must be good, “Mr Kelland said. But some people used the festival as an excuse for unusual behaviour, he said.
September 13
ROMAN Catholics throughout Fiji will be without their priests this week. All 67 priests in the Archdiocese of Fiji are attending a spiritual retreat at the Corpus Christi Teachers College in Suva.
A spokesman for the priests, Father Otto Imholte,said: “It would be a time of prayer, meditation and a renewal of spirit for us.”
He said it was the first time all the priests in the Archdiocese including Archbishop Petero Mataca, had gathered for a retreat.
September 14
FIJI'S 200,000 Methodists have for the first time elected an Indian minister as president of their church.
He is Reverend Daniel Mustapha, 46, who next January will succeed Reverend Setareki Tuilovoni for a three-year term as president of the Methodist Church of Fiji.
He was elected by 200 delegates at the Methodist Church Conference, which opened in Suva this week.
September 15
AN offer by senior civil servants to go without a pay rise this year would not amount to a significant saving of public money, according to Opposition spokesman on the Civil Service Chandra Pillay.