Fight to the End
Discipline and persistent played key to Army’s victory at the 63rd FMF Ratu Sukuna Bowl Challenge.
The Delainabua brigade were on spot in dominating the set pieces and ruck upsetting defending Cup holders Police 18-17 at the ANZ Stadium in Suva yesterday.
The win makes it the 27th time for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to have their name engraved on the prestigious 70-year-old tanoa.
Speaking to Sunsports RFMF captain Manoa Tamaya said they stucked to their gameplan.
“We had to fight until the last whistle and I continually reminded the men to remain focused and be consistent with our discipline,” Tamaya said.
“I kept telling the men to fight till the last minute and that gave us the edge.
“The men played as a team – eighty minutes was our target and we achieved that. “It was not an easy
game we had to fight for every possession we could get.
“We believed and trusted each other on the field and everyone did their job.
“The last time we won was in 2019, today’s win is a bonus.”
What happened:
As expected the game started with a bang and both teams exchanged big hits.
A grabber kick from Army winger Gabrieli Matakiviwa was miscalculated by Kini Douglas from Police allowing scrum half Aporosa Kenatale to score their first try in the fifth minute. They lead 5-0 lead.
Police was awarded a penalty in the 14th minute of play that was converted by Josefa Kuricuva to close the deficit 5-3.
The heavy condition started a kicking game and Police scored their first try through Sireli Kaloucava in the 23rd minute of play that was converted by Kuricuvu to take a 10-5 lead.
Army replied with a try to fly half Jeke Suguturaga to lock the score 10-all. Police controlled the tempo of the game, Timoci Sauvoli scored underneath the sticks that was converted by Kuricuvu to give them the 17-10 lead at half time.
Drop balls in the second spell was due to the heavy rain at Laucala.
Police were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute after Army collapsed the scrum; the penalty that was unconverted by Kurivucu.
Army worked the ball on the short side and found Ropate Tobe who dived in to score, of which Jone Manu failed to add another two valuable points. Score 17-15 to Police.
Army was awarded a penalty in the last minute, which Manu made no mistake in slicing the uprights – 18-17 to Army.
The FMF Sukuna Bowl was first contested in 1951. It was not played eight times – in 1965, 1987 to 1991, then 2000 and 2001.
Police has won 32 times while RFMF now winning it the 27th time, they drew four times.