Maroons Wary of Ba’s Winning Run

General Machinery Lautoka rugby captain, Leausa Baleilevuka, will miss tomorrow’s Skipper Cup clash against hosts Vinod Patel Ba at Govind Park.

This was confirmed to SUNsports yesterday by Lautoka Rugby Union secretary Seta Rakoto.

Baleilevuka was red carded in Lautoka’s 38-41 loss to Naitasiri in their double-header clash at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday.

“We’ll be playing without our captain,” Rakoto said.

“We’ll be making changes in our line-up. There’ll be players replaced so they could recuperate and at the same time give other players the opportunity to play.”

He said this is a must-win clash for the Maroons if they are to keep their spot in next year’s Skipper Cup competition. This was after the Fiji Rugby Union confirmed there would be no promotion relegation matches. 

“At the moment, it’s very close on the Skipper Cup points table, there is nothing much separating the teams and it’s wide open. 

“That is why it is important to keep on winning our games.”

Rakoto said they are very much aware that Ba is on a roll after beating Nadi last Saturday.

“Ba is no pushover as they have adapted to playing in the Skipper Cup level by now.”

He said there were many lessons learnt from their narrow loss to Naitasiri.

“We’ve worked on our weaknesses from the Naitasiri game and try to improve against Ba.”

Lautoka is expected to field former Flying Fijians and Fijian Drua halfback Peni Matawalu and Isikeli Rabitu who is now moved to centre. 

However, very impressive for the Maroons is second five-eighth Apimeleki Nasalo, who awed the Suva crowd with his elusive sidesteps and strong carries.

“Nasalo is only 20-years-old and he had been identified and groomed