Codes collide for the better
Digicel Fiji sevens team and Fiji Bati played a grudge match yesterday at Suva Grammar School grounds. The match was played in five quarters for the full 40 minutes for the first time ever for the two codes. The Digicel Fiji sevens team again came away victors against the Bati side as they outmuscled them in a fiery encounter 65-43.
Bati won the first quarter by 16-14 but lost in the second quarter to the sevens team by 31-0.Bati again bounced back in the remaining third and fourth quarters and defeated them by 17-14 and 10-6.In the third quarter saw the magical brilliance of William Ryder coming into the field combining well with Lepani Nabuliwaqa as they helped the side in winning remaining in the last quarter by 20-10 that sealed the match. Speaking to SUNsports Digicel Fiji sevens team coach/player Waisale Serevi said he was very happy with the performance of the players after last weeks game.The players played well throughout the match as they have shown in exceptional performance from whey they left off last week.Bati also played a marvelous game as they had shown in a lot of improvement from last week.They nearly defeated us as they won the first quarter but we had other ideas and won the game in our code in rugby union.Meanwhile, Serevi also added that he would like both the codes to play frequently as that will give a good a match preparation for both codes in their international assignments.Sevens trainer/manager Epeli Lagiloa also praised his players after the showdown.I must also take this opportunity to show my support to the Bati side as they had played a grand game against us.They have shown a remarkable performance from last weeks game and they had a good chance of winning the Orara Valley Sevens tournament.Lagiloa also added that they have also decided with Bati team coach to play matches more frequently in lead up to the Pacific Games in Samoa.We need to have this kind of collision as that will be a good build up game for both the code in lead up to the Pacific tourney, Lagiloa added.
