Skipper Cup: Suva Reigns

Suva manager Politi Cama praised his team’s compo­sure to overcome a stiff Na­droga test, winning 34-16 in the Skipper Cup Premier at the ANZ Stadium, Suva yesterday.

The defending champions claimed the bonus point win through two tries from lock for­ward Tuifagalele Sorovakatini and one each to winger Nacanieli Narekuva, centre John Stewart and substitute Malakai Vakala­wa.

Loose-head prop Eroni Mawi and the hard-running Stewart stood out for the home side as they crushed last year’s runner-up, who have now lost their sec­ond game in a row.

The Stallions, having suffered a heavy 40-18 loss to Nadi on April 13 at Lawaqa Park, have now con­ceded 74 points in two matches.

The fact that the losses came at the hands of two teams Nadroga was expected to compete against for the title is a worrying pros­pect for the westerners.

Fullback Apisalome Waqatabu was the only bright spot for them against Suva, finishing the game with a 100 per cent kicking re­cord, which included one conver­sion and three penalties.

The only negative aspect of Su­va’s game, by contrast, came in the form of frequent handling er­rors, also a common occurrence in their previous game against Tailevu – which Suva won 15-10.

The Suva Women and Under-19 sides also won their respective matches against Nadroga as the capital sides made a clean sheet in round two of the competition.

WHAT HAPPENED

Nadroga caught Suva by sur­prise in the 1st minute when winger Narekuva bundled over for the westerners’ first try in the left hand corner, which Waqata­bu converted as Nadroga led 7-0.

Suva hit back almost imme­diately after some dogged play from their forwards allowed lock Sorovakatini to cross over in the left hand corner.

Fullback Setareki Raoba’s missed conversion meant Nadro­ga maintained a slender 7-5 lead.

Nadroga was punished for their indecisiveness in defence in the 15th minute when a move to play out of from the back went horri­bly wrong.

Second five-eight Peni Kedra­levu dropped the ball behind his own try line, under a huge pres­sure from Suva counterpart Jone Manu, allowing Stewart to score an easy try.

Raoba was successful with the conversion this time as Suva took the lead for the first time 12-7.

Suva’s handling errors from their narrow win against Tailevu crept into their game once again, halting momentum at crucial mo­ments and putting pressure on the home side’s defence.

Suva openside flanker Elia Canakaivata was sent to the bin in the 32nd minute for a shoulder charge but Nadroga could not capitalise on the shortfall.

Halftime: Suva 12-7 Nadroga.

Nadroga scored in the 48th min­ute through Waqatabu, whose penalty from nearly 30-metres away reduced the deficit to 12-10.

But Suva were ruthless in their response, scoring in the left corner through outside centre Apisalome Vota after some slick passing by their backline cut open the Nadroga defence.

Raoba made it two out of three with the conversion, as Suva ex­tended their lead to 19-10.

Waqatabu again converted for Nadroga in the 54th, his near 42-metre penalty kick keeping the scores at a respectable 19-13.

Suva’s Raoba replied with a penalty of his own to restore the home side’s lead two minutes later, which was cancelled out by another from Waqatabu as Suva led 22-16.

Suva’s Sorovakitini then crossed over in the 68th minute to bring some daylight between the two teams after some strong running by Canakaivata, with Raoba converting to make it Suva 29-16.

The home side pushed hard for the bonus point try and was re­warded when substitute winger Malakai Vakalawa scored in in­jury time to cement the 34-16 win.

COMMENTS

Suva manager Polito Cama said: “The overall goal of this game is to secure five points and it’s good that we managed to do that. The key for the win today is the play­ers maintaining their compo­sure. Even though we dominated the set-pieces but our phase play was a bit rusty and that is one area we need to work on.

“We worked hard in the last few weeks. It was a scrappy game for us against Tailevu because we were trying out new combina­tions. We were wary of Nadroga knowing they lost in the first round and would come out firing today.

OTHER RESULTS:

Women: Suva 17-15 Nadroga

U19: Suva 8-5 Nadroga

-Edited by Osea Bola

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