Army Bears roar to opening win

The Army Bears kicked off their Fiji National Rugby League Vodafone Cup campaign in style, overpowering City Storm 34-8 in their Eastern Zone Conference Round One clash at Buckhurst Park on Saturday.

Head coach Sevanaia Koroi praised his players for delivering a commanding performance after months of preparation.

“Firstly, I thank God Almighty for giving the boys the strength to perform. We are pleased to start the competition with a win over City Storm,” Koroi told SUNsports.

The former national representative said the victory was a reward for the hard work put in by the squad over the past two months.

“We have been training consistently and playing preparation matches. The players executed what they learned during that period and it showed on the field. I thank the boys for their effort and also commend City Storm for challenging us strongly in the second half.”

Despite the convincing scoreline, Koroi believes there is still room for improvement.

“Our mentality is one area we need to work on. After building a good lead in the first half, we allowed City Storm back into the game at times. We made a few errors and our commitment dropped during parts of the second spell. Thankfully, we finished strongly and secured the result.”

Koroi also acknowledged the support of the Army community, families and fans who turned up to back the side.

“I thank our supporters, army delegates, families and friends for their encouragement. Their support means a lot to the players. I also appreciate those who continue to make it possible for our personnel to attend training each week.”

The opening-round victory gives the Bears an early boost as they look to build momentum throughout the season and continue preparations for the Army Rugby League World Cup in October.