The Fiji Times

Silktails gather pace

- By WAISALE KOROIWASA

BACK to back victories by the Kaiviti Silktails rugby league team has given the coaching staff the hope that they are edging closer to their best form.

This is the first time too for the Fijian side to achieve the result.

Head coach Wes Naiqama said their opening two defeats gave them some harsh lessons,” RNZ reported.

“After a disrupted pre-season, we’re beginning to hit our stride,” he said.

The side defeated the Western Suburbs Magpies 38-26 on Saturday and are placed fourth in the Ron Massey Cup, with a game in hand on the three teams above them.

“We always knew from the start and weren’t naive that it would take us a month to six weeks to sort of get up to scratch and get used to the pace of the game and the interpreta­tion of the rules here.

“The boys are definitely getting better at that and we’re tracking in the right direction. Still, we’re not getting carried away with the two wins,” he said.

The Silktails led 12-0 against the Magpies but found themselves trailing with half an hour to play after conceding three tries in 13 minutes.

“I was pretty disappoint­ed after the game, the former Dragons, Knights and Panthers star said in the report.

“There was probably a 20-30 minute period there where we played some real silly football and let a team like Wests back in the game. We got back in the arm-wrestle but I was pretty proud in the way the boys found a way to win.”

The Silktails relocated to Australia to compete in the Ron Massey Cup, after last year’s competitio­n was cancelled because of COVID-19.

 ?? Picture: FILE ?? Fiji 7s players celebrate winning the sevens gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Rugby league 9s could also be a potential gold target for the Fiji Bati if the move to include 9s in the Olympics is approved.
Picture: FILE Fiji 7s players celebrate winning the sevens gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Rugby league 9s could also be a potential gold target for the Fiji Bati if the move to include 9s in the Olympics is approved.

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