Oceania Rugby: The previously undefeated Tautahi Gold have slipped from first to third place in the 2010 IRB Pacific Rugby Cup after the Fiji Warriors scored a tight 21-13 victory this evening in Nadi.
The Gold forward pack, which has been so dominant in this tournament, was denied the space by a determined Warriors pack which shut down their opponents with tight and effective defence around the fringe of the rucks. The warriors scrum, likewise, was solid and ensured a tough day at the office for Gold halfback Atunaisa Sikalu.
The result sets up an intriguing final round of matches and with four teams remaining in the hunt and no team guaranteed a spot in the final. But the fate of the Fijian teams is within their own hands and a win to each in the final round will see the first single-country final in the 5 year history of the PRC. For Tautahi, their inability to score a bonus point in the tournament has significantly hampered their PRC campaign and it means that they must win their final match against Upolu, and hope that one of the Fijian teams stumble in the final round.
Tautahi winger Setaleki Luau scored the first try of the match to give the Gold an early 5-0 lead, with seven minutes gone in the half. Prolific kicker, Tupou Palu, the competition's leading point scorer, converted from 5 metres in from touch to give Tautahi a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors were awarded a penalty soon after which was duly converted by vice-captain Taniela Rawaqa to bring the score back to 7-3 in the 10th minute.
A second penalty to Rawaqa in the 25th minute narrowed the gap to a single point, 6-7.
The Warriors second try was scored by lock Anthony Wise who finished off a clever break by in-form halfback Nikola Matawalu to score five metres in from the left touch. The try was converted by Rawaqa and the Warriors hit the lead for the first time in the match, 13-7, with 3 minutes to go in the half, and so the scores remained at half-time.
Palu kicked a penalty in the third minute of the second half to bring the Gold back to within 3 points - 13-10. A further penalty in the 13th minute brought the scores levels 13-all.
Epelei Ruivadra had the local crowd in raptures when he crossed out wide after sustained pressure and quick hands to give the lead back to the Warriors 18-13 with 21 minutes to go in the match.
A drop goal on full time to Rawaqa secured the win and robbed Tautahi of a crucial bonus point. At fulltime it was 21-13 to the Warriors.
The outcome of today's results is that four teams remain in the hunt for a finals berth and no team is guaranteed a spot - setting up an intriguing final round of matches in Sigatoka on Saturday. An all-Fijian final remains a distinct possibility if both the Warriors and the Barbarians can win their matches on Saturday, against Tau'uta Reds and Savai'i Samoa respectively.
Tautahi's inability to score a bonus point could be their undoing - they now sit in third place, 2 points adrift of the Warriors on 12 points and must win their final match against Upolu Samoa, and hope either the Barbarians or the Warriors stumble, to qualify for the final in Suva on Saturday week.
Warriors captain, Dale Tonawai, was delighted with the win, but was not getting carried away: "We're very happy with the result. We won because we put our mind to what we wanted to do which was to win" he said.
Warriors' Coach Inoke Male was similarly pleased with the result. "I am particularly delighted with the way my forwards played today. We knew it was going to be a tough ask against the team that is unbeaten. I am particuarly proud of the way the boys stuck to the task this evening."
20 May, 2010
