An enthralling day’s rugby in the northern Fiji town of Labasa on Saturday ended with Police Suva defeating the Veiyasana Barbarians 24-19 in a stunning finale to the Suva 7s Series in front of a 5,000-strong Subrail Park crowd.
Police’s victory puts them in Pool B of the international 7s section at the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival later this month where they join USA, Western Force and Sukuna Bowl opponents Army.
Veiyasana Barbars, featuring many Red Rock players that used to ply their trade in Malaysia, enter Pool D with the Samoan Barbarians, Canadian Maple Leafs and Ratu Felise from the Coral Coast.
Police Suva, guided by the super fit and fast duo of Waisale Beci and Josevata Bole under the captaincy of former Digicel Fiji 7s skipper Etonia Naba, produced a sterling all-round game to dispatch PWD Bure and Labasa Army in the earlier rounds, then a gallant Police Labasa in the semi-finals.
To reach the semi-finals, Police Labasa had delighted the home crowd with a last-gasp 15-12 win over favourites Wardens, who had national reps Jerry Burotu, Pio Tuwai and Setefano Cakau in their ranks. Veiyasana, meanwhile, saw off stiff challenges from Mala Young Boys and Labasa Army II before downing top seeds Suva 19-0 in the semis.
“We’re so glad we decided to bring this tournament to Labasa,” Suva Rugby chairman Vilikesa Rauca said. “The support from the fans here and teams right across Vanua Levu has been just outstanding. This was probably the most competitive of the three domestic tournaments we’ve had, with 12 top teams travelling by boat from Viti Levu to face the best 20 sides from the North.”
At the end of the day’s play, a panel of coaches selected 15 players from the Northern teams to feature for the Northern Sharks in the international 7s section of Digicel Suva Rugby Festival.
“The Suva Rugby Union will bring the Northern Sharks team to Suva and look after their accommodation and meals for the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival,” Mr Rauca said. “In this small way, we hope we can assist rugby in the North and give something for their fans to look forward to.”
The Digicel Suva Rugby Festival begins 15 January at Albert Park, with the international 7s taking place 21-23 January at the National Stadium.
Suva 7s Series (Labasa):
9 Jan 2010, Subrail Park, Labasa
Pool A: Suva 7 Nasinu 7, Service Lions Savusavu 5 Cakaudrova Hardware Naidi 0, Nasinu 12 Naidi 14, Suva 29 Service Lions Savusavu 7, Suva 22 Naidi 0, Nasinu 30 Service Lions Savusavu 0.
Pool B: Nasolo Young Boys 0 Navy 32, Uluibau 0 Redbull Laucala 5, Navy 19 Rdbull Laucala 0, Nasolo Young Boys 19 Uluibau 0, Nasolo Young Boys 28 Redbull Laucala 0, Navy 29 Uluibau 7.
Pool C: Army Veivanua 14 Service Labasa 14, Police Labasa 7 Somosomo Sharks 7, Army Veivanua 7 Police Labasa 26, Service Labasa 12 Somosomo Sharks 5, Army Veivanua 21 Somosomo Sharks 7, Service Labasa 0 Police Labasa 26.
Pool D: Wardens 24 St Patrick 0, Jazreel Taveuni Lions 10 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 7, St Patrick 5 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 19, Wardens 15 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 7, Wardens 24 Vonoyauyau Savusavu 0, St Patrick 0 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 17.
Pool E: Veiyasana Barbars 12 Sanibua 0, Navave 5 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 5, Senibua 12 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 5, Veiyasana 33 Navave 7, Veiyasana 41 Jazreel Taveuni Blue 0, Senibua 10 Navave 5.
Pool F: PWD Bure 17 Nacula Young Boys 0, Bainivualiku II 10 St Michael Naweni 7, Nacula Young Boys 7 St Michael Laweni 19, PWD Bure 5 Bainivualiku II 12, PWD Bure 17 St Michael Laweni 0, Nacula Young Boys 7 Bainivualiku II 17.
Pool G: Bainivualiku 15 Mala Young Boys 7, Northern Stallions 0 Police Labasa II 21, Bainivualiku 21 Northern Stallions 0, Mala Young Boys 29 Police Labasa II 19, Mala Young Boys 19 Northern Stallions 0, Bainivualiku 19 Police Labasa II 5.
Pool H: Police Suva 14 Uprising FTG 12, Manulevu WBD Northern Territory LBD, FTG WBD Northern Territory LBD, Police Suva 33 Manulevu 0, Police Suva WBD Northern Territory LBD, FTG 19 Manulevu 5.
Second Round: Suva 19 Army Veivanua 12, Navy 12 Jazreel Taveuni Lions 0, Veiyasana Barbars 10 Mala Young Boys 5, Bainivualiku II 17 Uprising FTG 15, Police Labasa 24 Nasinu 12, Wardens 15 Nasolo Young Boys 7, Bainivualiku 26 Senibua 5, Police Suva 5 PWD Bure 0.
Quarter-finals: Suva 14 Navy 5, Veiyasana 29 Bainivualiku II 5, Police Labasa 15 Wardens 12, Bainivualiku 14 Police Suva 26.
Semi-finals: Suva 0 Veiyasana 19, Police Labasa 19 Police Suva 28.
Final: Veiyasana 19 Police Suva 24.
Digicel Player of the Tournament: Isoa Tuinakoro (Veiyasana)
