Yasawa falls to Suva U20

DESPITE putting up a tough fight against Suva, the Yasawa side failed to pull off an upset victory after going down 26-20 to the Skipper Cup defending champions in the under-20 division.

Head coach Sireli Bulicokocoko identified their kicking game as a key factor contributing to their defeat against the capital side.

“Our performance today(yesterday) was commendable, but our kicking game ultimately cost us against the defending champions,” he said.

“We only managed to cross Suva’s half a few times which hindered our scoring opportunities.”

“And in all the times we did cross their half, we were able to go over for a try.”

Bulicokocoko emphasised the importance of territorial dominance, stating that maintaining pressure in Suva’s territory could have tipped the scales in their favor.

“Our strategy revolved around pinning Suva in their half, but we failed in executing it effectively,” he explained.

“Additionally, our missed conversions added to our downfall against Suva.”

Despite the setback, Bulicokocoko lauded his team’s resilience on the field, pushing Suva to their limits in a closely contested battle at the Bidesi Grounds in Suva.

“As we head into round three, we’ll analyze areas needing improvement before our next fixture.”

Looking ahead to their upcoming encounter with Tailevu, Bulicokocoko anticipates a fierce contest but assures Yasawa supporters of a tougher and more formidable team.

“We’ll emerge stronger and more prepared, but for now, it’s back to the drawing board as we gear up for our next challenge.”

Meanwhile, in the ANZ Marama Cup senior matches, Naitasiri thumped Nadroga 59-15, Suva edged Yasawa 22-14, while newcomers Nasinu beat Lautoka 40-27.

In the Royal Tea Ranadi Competition, Suva whopped Yasawa 115-0 while Nasinu went down to Lautoka 61-0.