Late try sinks Fiji

[LeagueXIII]

From today's Fiji Times:

Tongans late intercept try deny brave Bati

Saturday, October 20, 2007



THE Fiji Bati side slumped to a 12-14 loss to Mate Ma'a Tonga in a one-off Test match at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, yesterday.
Fiji Bati team manager Rusi Ratakele said an intercept try five minutes from fulltime gave the home team the win.
"We were leading 12-10 with five minutes to go when they intercepted a pass to score in the corner," Ratakele said from the Tongan capital.
"It was a hard and physical match and the coach (Arthur Kitinas) was happy with the performance of the boys.
"The match served as a good build-up to the world cup next year."
Fiji took a 4-0 lead at the breather after Canterbury Bulldogs centre Namila Davui scored the only points of the half.
The home side hit back with two tries, one of which was converted, to lead 10-4.
Fiji winger Sam Wara, who plays his trade with the West Tigers, scored two tries to give the Bati a 12-10 lead before the Tongan intercept.
The Bati side can be proud of themselves for keeping the experienced Tongan side scoreless for the first half.
Ratakele said most of the Tongan players were part of the National Rugby League competition in Australia.
The same Tongan side had hammered the Junior Kangaroos 44-10 last week.
"Our defence stood out tall in the first half and that was shown when we kept the Tongans at bay," Ratakele said.
Ratakele said interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama visited the team before and after the match.
"He really boosted the morale of the players and they gave their all this afternoon.
"It was a wonderful game of physical power and strength from both teams." The team arrives home at 11.30am today.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Any word on the crowd?

 

[LeagueXIII]

4000 acoring to the Fiji Sun:

Fiji Bati goes down fighting
Last updated 10/20/2007 10:08:00 AM


The presence of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimara did little to save the Fiji Bati side from losing to hosts Tonga 14-12 at Teufaiva Stadium in Nukualofa yesterday. Bainimara who is in Tonga for the Pacific Leaders Forum witnessed the match as the Fiji Bati side went down fighting in the one off test match.
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimara praised the gallant Fiji Bati side in front of a hostile Tongan crowd at Teufaiva Park.
The Tongan rugby league side Matema'a'toga pulled off a spectacular last gap intercept from their own tryline for Leasu Siu'a to touch down on the other side of the park for a narrow 14-12 victory.
The Fiji Bati side got off to a flying start in the first half to an unconverted try by Namila Davui for the visitors to lead 4 -0 at the break.
The Tongans with her Highness Princess Pilolevu in attendance along with Prime Minister Feleti Sevele did not let the strong four thousand crowd down when they scored a converted try to snatch the lead 6-4 after the breather.
The Bati hit back five minutes later with a clever grubber kick for a touch down on the corner. Fiji led 8-6 after missing a crucial conversion.
The home side scored an unconverted try after a smart backline move saw the Tongans score in the corner for the home team to regain the lead 10-8.
Fiji sent the Tongan fans moving to the gate with another unconverted try to lead 12-10.
However the Tongans had the last laugh when a Nicky Little type blunder by the Bati backline saw the Tongans run the length of the field for the winner.
"You played well, " Commodore Bainimarama told the Arthur Kitinas coached side after the match.

 

[BatiFan]

Great result for both nations - Tonga because they were at home and Fiji because they had the majority of their squad from the FNRL domestic competition. Tonga by all reports had a number of current NRL players in their team, so for Fiji to hold them to that scoreline bodes well for next years WC when they will have access to top line players like Naiqama, Millard, Sutton, Tadulala, Simms etc. Great to see 4000 there also.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Awesome stuff!

 

[otag]

14 - 12!

i truly expected the tongans to put 20 points on fiji, going by their result against the junior roos.

fiji has a lot to look forward to in the world cup next year, and much moreso for the future.

 

[roopy]

I hope some NRL scouts made the game.
I suspect there were several guys on show who would be worth a shot at PL at least.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

This on the back of the Malta result... f**k, i love how our game just keeps fighting back. 58-0, and now 2 crackers...

 

[kuwaiti kev]

Great stuff, can't wait to see these teams at the world cup next year.

Does anyone know the Tongan team list from the game?

 

[crimpo]

Sounds like the crowd will have gone home well entertained. I don't think we should have been too surprised by the result - Fiji are certainly very competitive with the likes of Tonga, PNG and France.

 

[bula_stormer]

Great result, Islands footy has alot to look forward too next year, Fiji should have good depth.