From Fiji Times online
Visitors beat Fiji Bati
(Wednesday, August 18, 2004)
AUSTRALIA-based Carlos Mataova steered the visiting Cook Islands rugby league team to an upset 36-24 win over the Fiji Bati at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The playmaker from Brothers Valley in Brisbane scored a try and booted four conversions to give the visitors a one-nil lead in the two Test series.
Down 8-24 at half-time the Cook Islanders staged a dramatic second-half comeback scoring 28 unanswered points.
The Fiji Bati, ranked six places ahead of their opposition after the 2000 World Cup, failed to match up to the more powerful Cook Islanders.
While the Bati management wasn't treating the loss as a setback, the alarm bells have started ringing. Prior to last night's international Fiji's last Test was in 2001.
Bati coach Vula Dakuitoga said the result would not affect the morale of his players.
"Most are new at international level. We played extremely well in the first spell but because of the heavy work rate, the boys fatigued towards the end of the match. The Cooks were bigger. So it took three or four players to stop them. Hence the boys ran out of steam,'' said Dakuitoga.
The Bati made a flying start with Netani Tikoisuva scoring the first try on five minutes. The Cooks levelled terms with Josh David as the extra man outside getting to dot down in the corner.
Replacement Tevita Volavola showed sheer pace to beat the Cooks cover defence for the second try.
Winger and national sevens trialist Lagilagi Golea scored the third try with a 70 metre gallop after an intercept.
Mataova scooped his side's second try before the Bati finished the spell with tries from Marika Korovui and Ilisoni Namasi.
The Cook Islanders changed the game plan in the new spell by keeping the ball in the forwards. The Bati didn't get much possession and were pressured into making mistakes. Replacement Paul Daniels, Bryon Thomas, Tere Taia, Kanute Ritawa, and Graeme Jeffries scored a try each to seal a well deserved win.
Cook Islands coach Ina Konito said the Bati played well. "We made many ball handing errors in the first half. Fiji players were very fast and they captalised on our mistakes. That's why we had to change our pattern in the second half. We kept the ball with the forwards and drove through the Fiji defence,'' Konito said.
The next Test will be played at the National Stadium in Suva on Friday.
Visitors beat Fiji Bati
(Wednesday, August 18, 2004)
AUSTRALIA-based Carlos Mataova steered the visiting Cook Islands rugby league team to an upset 36-24 win over the Fiji Bati at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
The playmaker from Brothers Valley in Brisbane scored a try and booted four conversions to give the visitors a one-nil lead in the two Test series.
Down 8-24 at half-time the Cook Islanders staged a dramatic second-half comeback scoring 28 unanswered points.
The Fiji Bati, ranked six places ahead of their opposition after the 2000 World Cup, failed to match up to the more powerful Cook Islanders.
While the Bati management wasn't treating the loss as a setback, the alarm bells have started ringing. Prior to last night's international Fiji's last Test was in 2001.
Bati coach Vula Dakuitoga said the result would not affect the morale of his players.
"Most are new at international level. We played extremely well in the first spell but because of the heavy work rate, the boys fatigued towards the end of the match. The Cooks were bigger. So it took three or four players to stop them. Hence the boys ran out of steam,'' said Dakuitoga.
The Bati made a flying start with Netani Tikoisuva scoring the first try on five minutes. The Cooks levelled terms with Josh David as the extra man outside getting to dot down in the corner.
Replacement Tevita Volavola showed sheer pace to beat the Cooks cover defence for the second try.
Winger and national sevens trialist Lagilagi Golea scored the third try with a 70 metre gallop after an intercept.
Mataova scooped his side's second try before the Bati finished the spell with tries from Marika Korovui and Ilisoni Namasi.
The Cook Islanders changed the game plan in the new spell by keeping the ball in the forwards. The Bati didn't get much possession and were pressured into making mistakes. Replacement Paul Daniels, Bryon Thomas, Tere Taia, Kanute Ritawa, and Graeme Jeffries scored a try each to seal a well deserved win.
Cook Islands coach Ina Konito said the Bati played well. "We made many ball handing errors in the first half. Fiji players were very fast and they captalised on our mistakes. That's why we had to change our pattern in the second half. We kept the ball with the forwards and drove through the Fiji defence,'' Konito said.
The next Test will be played at the National Stadium in Suva on Friday.
