DIGICEL Naitasiri staged a gutsy comeback to beat defending champions, Digicel Nadroga 25-24 in the final of the Digicel Cup final at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori on Saturday.
It was a game of two halves as Nadroga won the first while Naitasiri made good use of their opportunities in the second. Down 5-21 at halftime, Naitasiri came out with a perfect performance in the second 40 minutes to steal the game at the end.
The win saw Naitasiri take home the Digicel Cup plus $17,000 prize-money. Nadroga only had themselves to blame for the loss as they simply had no answer to the powerful performance from the Naitasiri forwards in the second half. Two second half tries to Naitasiri prop Vesi Rarawa and hooker Vereniki Sauturaga came when the Naitasiri pack powered their way through the disorganised and tired Nadroga defence.
Naitasiri will have to thank first five Kolinio Vunaki for the win as he turned around a poor first half to score 10 very important points in the second half. Vunaki, who hails from Nadroga, dropped a couple of passes and his kicks for touch were very poor in the first half.
Given the opportunity by coach Reverend Joji Rinakama to continue, the 22-year-old made amends in the second half. Naitasiri captain Sainivalati Vunibola said even though they were down 21-5 he knew they still had time to win the match. The Nakorosule lad said they had prepared to win the final.
“We came here with a mission and I’m glad that we’ve managed to accomplish it here this afternoon.
“When we went to the change room at half-time the message to the boys was that we still can come back and win if we played to our game plan.” Vunibola thanked all his players for the effort they put in, especially as they had to overcome a big scoreline.
“The win was achieved because we had all work together as a team especially when we playing a champion side like Nadroga.” Nadroga captain Tiko Matawalu said they lost to a better team. The tough prop said they now look forward to the start of the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy challenge.
“I want to thank the players for the hard work they’ve put in during the Digicel Cup campaign but now we have to shift focus to the defense of the Farebrother Trophy,” Matawalu said.
Nadroga attacked from the kick-off and camped inside the Naitasiri 22 for the first five minutes. A failed penalty from Vunaki saw Naitasiri awarded a scrum five meters from the try-line and that play saw Naitasiri hooker Sauturaga score the first of his two tries in the match.
After this try it was all Nadroga as they scored 21 unanswered points to lead 21-5 at halftime. Nadroga points in the first half came via two tries to Joeli Lutumailagi and one to Maikeli Mocetadra plus two penalties from Jonetani Ralulu.
But tries to Rarawa and Sauturaga plus 10 points from the boots of Vunaki saw Naitasiri go home victorious in the end.
Nadroga center Joeli Lutumailagi was voted the Best Player of the Final.
