Samoan Domestic News

[fobsta]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Saints tame Lions 22-6[/FONT]Fasavalu Europa Rose

Marist breaking the Lion’s defense and having some great follow-up work from Afa Lesa and Alapasa Cordtz. Photo: Fasavalu Europa Rose.

Marist Saints on Saturday showed their all-round ability in contact sports during the Samoa Rugby League (SRL) domestic competition, defeating Lauli’i Lions 22-6.

The indomitable Saints blaze went into the game as the hot-favorites through their well-known structured play reputation.

The green outfit ran in four tries to secure their victory.

Captain Afa Lesa was the first to cross the line after the Marist backs spotted an overlap. With some great handling skills, they spread the ball wide for Lesa to sprint 40 meters for a try.

But Lauli’i answered back with a try when a hole in the Saints’ armour opened up, for the Lions to score under the post.

The conversion was successful and the Lion’s led 6-4.

But a 60meter try from Chris Lei Sam after he received an inside cut pass from Lesa to sprint for the line, Marist regained the lead 10-6.

At halftime, the score was 16-10 to the Saints.

Lepupa Taualagi made it look easy when he breezed past the Lion’s swarming defense to extend their lead 22-10.

Captain Afa Lesa told the Observer Sports he was grateful to have come away with the win.

“We are happy to win, and credit to Lauli’i for their efforts in today’s match (Saturday),” he said.

“We have been preparing well for all our matches, and in any game we won’t underestimate any team.

“I would like to thank the boys for a good game, our Coach and the Lord for the strength.”

Marist although not yet confirmed is to meet defending champions Vaiala Blackie on Saturday.

In other matches Taufusi Town Warriors in a tight match managed to hold-out a late surge from the Saleimoa Steelers to win 6-4.

Vaitele-West Tigers currently tops the table undefeated.
RUGBY LEAGUE RESULTS

Giants 16-12 Don Bosco
Roosters win by default over Raiders
Blackie win by default over Lepea
Barracuda 10-10 West Tigers
Town Warriors 6-4 Steelers
Saints 22-6 Lions.

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/sports/SPNews/0808/0408sp001.htm​

 

[fobsta]

Afa Lesa and Chris Lei Sam were two of the five domestic players that played for Samoa in the last stage of World Cup Qualifiers.

They are likely to be part of the group of 5 local players that will join the already announced 40 man Toa Samoa World Cup Squad, before it is trimmed down to 24 on October 8.

 

[roughyedspud]

:lol:

you not seen the rest of the threads re - samoa?

 

[bartman]

Afa Lesa and Chris Lei Sam were two of the five domestic players that played for Samoa in the last stage of World Cup Qualifiers.

They are likely to be part of the group of 5 local players that will join the already announced 40 man Toa Samoa World Cup Squad, before it is trimmed down to 24 on October 8.

I hope some of them survive the trim... it would be good recognition for the local leagues in all countries, even though the RLIF have ditched that criteria.

 

[fobsta]

:lol:

you not seen the rest of the threads re - samoa?

Article is about the Samoan Domestic Comp, not the World Cup Squad as in the other threads.

 

[roughyedspud]

Afa Lesa and Chris Lei Sam were two of the five domestic players that played for Samoa in the last stage of World Cup Qualifiers.

They are likely to be part of the group of 5 local players that will join the already announced 40 man Toa Samoa World Cup Squad, before it is trimmed down to 24 on October 8.

not going to happen.........

 

[fobsta]

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/sports/SPNews/1008/1208sp001.htm


[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Steelers and Saints Grand final destiny[/FONT]
Fasavalu Europa Rose

Commitment and determination to gain that extra meter was the winning attitude for the Saleimoa Steelers, when they defeated Vaitele West-Tigers 14-12 in their semi-final clash yesterday at the Marist stadium in Lotopa.​

When the dust settled yesterday in the semi-final of the SamoaTel National Domestic League competition at the Marist stadium, Marist Saints and Saleimoa Steelers prevailed for a grand-final showdown this Saturday.

The Saleimoa Steelers dazzled around and through Vaitele to win 14-12, their goal kicker Pati Tuavae converted eight points to book a spot in the grand-final against Marist.

Steelers Coach Tofilau Papali’i said the best team will win the grand-final.

“The team that absorbs what the Coach and Trainers want, it’s that team that will win,” he said.

Saleimoa did not take part in last year’s domestic competition, but they have been around since rugby league was introduced to Samoa, explained Tofilau.

“The last time we formed a league team was in 1990, we’re not a new team,” he stated.

“We used to win past competitions, so this year we’ve decided to re-enter our team with the hopes of succeeding the same goal.”

Marist Saints came from behind to defeat Vaiala in an intense semi-final, 22-20.

The score was 14-6 at halftime to Vaiala Blackie, but three tries from Marist in the second half changed the outcome of the game in their favour.

Former Toa Samoa Ponifasio Vasa was one of the try-scorers, to make it 16-14.

But Vaiala hit right back with two tries of their own bringing the score 20-16, before retired Manu Samoa Brian ‘The Chiropractor’ Lima in full speed couldn’t be stopped near the try line, the match now locked at 20-20.

Saints goal kicker and former Toa Samoa Afa Lesa made sure the win was theirs through his boot, to end the match 22-20.

The Saints Coach Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi told the Observer Sports the match could’ve gone either way.

“Vaiala had a great team, their forwards had the bulk and their backs had the goods, but we are thankful that we won it,” he said.

“Our next objective now is Saleimoa in the final and they have a good team as well, so we will be preparing the best way possible for next week (this week).”​

​

 

[kiwileaguefan]

I believe the whole Toa Samoa World Cup squad will be there to watch the match, sounds like League is starting to pick up in Samoa. At least we can rest assured that the Domestic comp wont crash and burn like it did after the last World Cup!!

 

[bender]

I believe the whole Toa Samoa World Cup squad will be there to watch the match, sounds like League is starting to pick up in Samoa. At least we can rest assured that the Domestic comp wont crash and burn like it did after the last World Cup!!

I am not so sure that it wont crash and burn, if we dont be careful to nurture and assist it.

Still, it sure does make a few people on here who deathrode the Samoan Rugby League cause, and jumped up and down about an expat Samoan side in the World cup doing nothing virtually nothing for Samoa in the Islands, look a little silly. Much like South Africa did a year or two ago.

To put this into perspective, by the sounds of things on the domestic front, they have moved from virtually nothing to a domestic setup that is virtually the equal of or at least not too far from the likes of Scotland, Ireland, Lebanon. That is a huge effort in a short space of time.

 

[fobsta]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]‘We are the champions’ Saints 18-8 Steelers[/FONT]
Fasavalu Europa Rose

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Marist Saints celebrate their victorious win over Saleimoa Steelers in the SamoaTel National Rugby League competition grand-final. (Photo: Fasavalu Europa Rose)​

That’s how it ended in the grand-final of the SamoaTel National Rugby League competition yesterday at the Apia Park Stadium.

The unstoppable green-machine, Marist Saints scored three tries to seal a sweet victory over the valiant Saleimoa Steelers, 18-8.

Local Toa Samoa Taualagi Lepupa scored the first try of the match when the defence could not match his elusive run under the post.

At half time, the Saints were leading 16-2. The Steelers’ early points came from the boot of hooker Pati Tauvae.

The Steelers seemed to have found some rhythm in the second half through a try scored by Tauvae bringing the score to 16-8.

But the Saints were quick to prevent it from happening again, and up the ante in their defence and attack.

Marist fullback substitution Karl Sala converted a penalty after a shot tackle from the Steelers, ending the chapter in this year’s competition.

Marist won the cup plus $3,000 courtesy of SamoaTel, and brand new rugby league uniform from SAS.

In other matches, 2007 champions Vaiala Blackie grabbed third place in a competitive match against Vaitele West-Tigers 9-6.

Chanel Roosters came from behind to clinch fifth place from Apia Barracudas in a close match, 18-16.

Manu Samoa legend Brian Lima was elected as the player of the tournament, playing fro Marist.​

SAMOATEL NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE RESULTS:
Cup champions: Marist Saints ($3,000)
Runner-up: Saleimoa Steelers ($2,500)
3rd place: Vaiala Blackie ($2,000)
4th place: Vaitele West-Tigers ($1,500)
MVP: Brian Lima (Marist)
Best Manager: Tofilau Henry Ligaliga (Saleimoa)

​

http://www.samoaobserver.ws/sports/SPNews/1008/1908sp001.htm​

 

[Pesamino]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]

Manu Samoa legend Brian Lima was elected as the player of the tournament, playing for Marist.​

MVP: Brian Lima (Marist)​

LOL. Nice to see the king still at it.
​

 

[playdaball]

LOL. Nice to see the king still at it.
[/left]
[/center]

How old is Lima? He turned down a few RL offers during SL days.

 

[fobsta]

How old is Lima? He turned down a few RL offers during SL days.

(born 25 January 1972 in Apia, Samoa) = 37 in a few months