EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE DEFEATED BY FIJI POLICE AT DIGICEL SUVA SEVENS

[RugbyWA]

A youthful Emirates Western Force Sevens side has gone down 21-10 to Fiji Police on the opening day of the Digicel Suva Sevens in Fiji...

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[Burgs]

We're in trouble, can't even out run the police

[slomo]

is the youthful team we sent over full time players or do they have other jobs like their opposition?.......
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[fulvio sammut]

Some are, some aren't. Some do, some don't.

[slomo]

thanks for that fulvio ......
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[laura]

Well here's your squad:
Conrad Gillingham (Wing) - Kalamunda
Justin Turner (Halfback) - Emirates Western Force / Associates
Flip Manu (Backrow) - Emirates Western Force / Palmyra
Stefano Hunt (Flyhalf) - Emirates Western Force / Associates
Luke Jones (Lock) - Emirates Western Force
Dion Berryman (Fullback) - Kalamunda
Ben Hales (Lock) - Associates
Zane Houia (Centre) - Nedlands
Koiatu Koiatu (Centre) - Wanneroo
Dave Kara (Wing) - Kalamunda
Kyle Godwin (Flyhalf) - Associates
Ted Postal (Backrow) -
Dwayne Nestor Coach
Brendan Appleby Trainer
Ben Mather Physio

Of the 12 players, atleast half are 20 years old or younger. Fair effort to keep up with a Fijian rugby team let alone Fijian cops!!

[travelling_gerry]

Edwards shine, Police survive in Pool B
Amit Raj
Thursday, January 21, 2010

Update: 7:50PM NICK Edwards was the star as USA Cougars upset Army 15-12 in the Digicel Suva International Sevens today.

The 25-year-old scored two tries in the close win.

The Cougars trailed 12-10 in the dying stages before Matt Hawkins touched down to seal the memorable victory.

Edwards said it was a tough win for his side.

"We expected it to be like this. Against Army, we were up against it at halftime when we were down 7-5," he said.

At halftime we talked about making things simple, finishing off our moves and being ruthless.

He said he was honoured to contribute with the double.

"I was fortunate to finish the moves. Basically all players touched the ball before it came to me.

"I'm just blessed to be part of this team and playing with this great bunch of guys, who are very talented."

Edwards expects tomorrow's pool games against Police Blues and Western Force to be tougher than the Army game.

"Were in a tough pool, "he said.

"Western Force is a fast and young side.

"We will need to make sure we stay composed and compete well in the set-piece," Edwards said.

Army led by former national sevens rep Dale Tonawai drew first blood in the game with a try to Noa Lovia and Apenisa Kabu scored the sides second try.

Ilai Tinai was successful in converting the first try.

POLICE SURVIVE

PLAYMAKER Jonetani Dobui's decisive try helped Police Blue overcome Western Force 21-10 in the opening Pool B match of the Digicel Suva International Sevens today.

Police led 7-5 at halftime after Samu Bola, a late inclusion in the side set Apenisa Dralia for the opener.

Force hit back in an emphatic way with an unconverted try to captain Koiatu Koiatu following a beautiful exchange of reverse passes between Berryman Dion and the skipper.

In the second half, Bola touched down to extend Polices lead to 14-5 before former national sevens team trialist Dobui clinched it for the lawmen two minutes before time.

Force put together interesting phases but lost the plot when Koiatu copped a yellow card for a late tackle.

In the following minute, Polices Moala Nakia was the next player to head to the bin and Force took advantage through a Dion try to narrow the scores.

Dralia converted the three tries for Police.

Police coach and former national rep Savenaca Aria hopes the side would lift its game today.

"Im not really happy, "he said.

"But it was our first game.

"Well need to improve on both attack and defence, "Aria said.

Western Force coach Dwanye Nestor said the opening game was an eye opener for his younger players.

"The experienced players did okay and this is something for us to build on, "he said.

"The guys couldnt match the intensity. We have a similar heat in Perth. You can train as hard as you can but its never easy to replicate it during game time."

Nestor said his players gained a lot of confidence from the game and would come out firing against Army tomorrow.

Were not here to make numbers. Were here for a learning experience and well have a good crack at them (Army) tomorrow, he said.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=138022

[travelling_gerry]

Nick Jordan, Suva

Match 1 - Wardens 22 Papua New Guinea 7
Two former Fiji coaches squared off in the opening match. The wild card entrant Wardens, under Jo Savou, opened proceedings with a victory over Waisale Serevi’s Menjals.

Wardens’ Fabiano Mataki had the honour of scoring the first try of the tournament, on his 35th birthday, and a great conversion from wide out gave the prison guards a 7-0 lead which they never relinquished.

Moses Vatunitu extended the lead to 12-0 on the stroke of half time, and although PNG’s Albert Levi sprinted 80 metres to score the first try by an international player, further tries to Simione Kavaga and Mitieu Tokacau ensured a first-up victory for the Fiji clubs.

Match 2 - Police 21 Western Force 10
The Australian entrant, Perth’s Western Force who had assembled just prior to the tournament, fared little better against a Police side coming off the back of winning the final qualifying tournament in Labasa a fortnight ago.

It took less than a minute for Nesiah Moala to put the Police up 7-0. Force captain, and Cook Islands representative Koiatu Koiatu, pulled one back for the Force and the first-time visitors to Fiji went into halftime at 5-7.

Samu Bola showed the front-row brigade can make an impact in Rugby Sevens with a second half try and Jonetavu Dabau took advantage of the sin binning of Koiatu to extend the lead to 21-5.

Stefano Hunt, the cousin of NRL (and soon to be AFL) star Karmichael Hunt came on to set up a late try to Dion Berryman.

Match 3 - Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians 19 Canada Maple Leafs 14
The Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians feature a number of expat Fijians playing in Malaysia and their return home was a success against the Morgan Williams-coached shadow Canadian squad.

Veiyasana’s first foray into Canadian territory lead to a try to William Rasileka and a 7-0 lead. The Maple Leafs struck back with a try to Nathan Hirayama and Phil Mack’s conversion levelled the scores at half time.

Michael Nabuliwaqa, brother of Fijian rep Lepani, sprinted 60 metres in his bright yellow boots to give Veiyasana the edge but Sean Duke’s try with two minutes remaining gave the Maple Leafs the lead.

However, a missed tackle saw replacement Jeke Gotegote, the brother of former Fijian flyer Sireli Bobo, slice through to snatch the victory.

Match 4 - Waimanu 19 Tonga 7
Waimanu, from Fiji’s highlands, is a side led out by a flag-bearing, 75-year old lady known simply as “Bukini” and it took several minutes for captain Asaeli Naitege to give her something to cheer about with a try under the posts.

Gradually the Fijians gained the ascendancy and Jo Nakaira finished a lovely move in the corner.

Leading 12-0 at half time, Ben Sagata put the game beyond doubt with a try from close range and Tonga’s attempts for a consolation were rewarded with a try to Siaosi Iongi.

Match 5 - Suva 31 Manawatu 0
The host club demonstrated their intentions at their own event with a five-try demolition of New Zealand’s Manawatu.

The New Zealanders, missing three players in camp with Gordon Tietjens’ national side - Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama and Kurt Baker – had no answer to a rampant host.

Early pressure led to tries to Amenisitai Niukula and Alipate Mataivilia while Patrick Osbourne showed why he caught the eye of the Canterbury Crusaders with a strong burst for a try.

Jovesa Nawalu wrapped up the match prior to half time and the hosts lead 24-0 at the break and Osbourne’s second try was the icing on the centenary cake for Suva.

Match 6 - USA Cougars 15 Army 12
Finally, the international sides registered a victory when a staunch USA defence was rewarded with a hard-fought win over the local Army.

Army, another wild card entry, put Noa Lovia for the first try but Nese Malifa scored, albeit from an undetected forward pass, on the stroke of half time to bring the score to 5-7.

Nick Edwards’ 60m sprint for the corner got the Cougars off to the best possible start in the second half, however a tighthead put Apenisa Kabu over in the corner and saw the lead go back to Army.

More great USA defence forced a penalty and captain Matt Hawkins, kept his head to dive over in the corner.

Match 7 - Ratu Filise 17 Samoan Barbarians 12
Ratu Filise, the village near Sigatoka whose most famous export is Lote Tuqiri, pieced together a nice opening score to Jone Macilai.

The Samoans botched a try late in the first half shadows to go into the break 0-5 down and started the second half with one of their five IRB Sevens players on the pitch, Ofisa Treviranus, setting up another, Jerry Meafou, to score and take a 7-5 lead.

Immediately the lead swung back to Ratu Filise when Timoci Kurimalai went under the posts only for Falemiga Selesele to benefit from Alatasi Tupou’s sleight of hand and allow Samoa to draw level.

At the death, Kurimalai scored his second in the corner and the locals, who qualified at the opening round of the Suva Sevens series, celebrated a famous 17-12 victory over the team currently placed fourth on the IRB table.

Match 8 - Fiji Barbarians 35 Northern Sharks 0
Without captain Emosi Vucago, who has a dose of the flu, the Fiji side made a satisfactory start to the tournament.

Fiji’s first match at home for many years raised a cheer from the 3000-strong crowd and Waisale Beci, a late addition during the week, opened the scoring.

Jiuta Lutumailagi returned from the sin bin to score Fiji’s second and give a comfortable 14-0 lead at the hooter.

After another dose of island sounds, policeman Beci further staked his claim for a national call up with his second try and Watisoni Votu shut out the Sharks, the only team from Fiji’s north, with a brace of touch downs.


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