Fijians play well in bog-like conditions

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 30

Fijians play well in bog-like conditions

PA Greymouthi In driving rain on a ground little better than a bog, the touring Fijians acquitted themselves well in downing a gallant West Coast, 28-12, in what, considering the conditions, vyas a thoroughly entertaining match.

The match was barely seconds old, when West Coast’s half-back, Kelly Glass, put up a high kick which Fiji’s full-back, Warne Gavidi, misjudged completely allowing Glass to toe the ball over the line and give Coast the early lead. In spite of the conditions, Fiji showed it was prepared to run the ball, and after six minutes a fluid backline movement culminated in a fine try to Gavidi who crashed over inches from the corner flag. Although the West Coast forwards acquitted themselves well against their far heavier opponents, the backs didn’t fare so well, and the

defence looked stretched when the ball went along the speedy Fijian back line. The inevitable try came and Fiji went to an 8-6 lead in the twentieth minute, when Kameili Yacalevu broke through and deftly fed the ball to the flying winger, Tevita Makutu, who ran around Ken Thomson to score an easy try. Fiji tempted fate early in the second half when it attempted to throw the slippery ball about and Coast drew first blood with a successful Tony Kissick penalty to lead, 9-8. Obviously fired up, the Coast forwards, ably led by their captain, Bernie Monk, pressed home their advantage and Fiji gave away a further three points when the first five-eighths, Rupeni Nakiyoyo, was ruled off-side in front of the posts. Kissick made no mistake with the kick.

Fiji’s retaliation was swift and effective, scoring a fur-

ther three tries. After another try to Gavidi, the hooker, S. Seru, playing outside the outside backs, took the ball and dived over for the try in the comer. With ten minutes of play remaining, Fiji was awarded a defensive penalty, and the five-eighths, Kini Vosailagi, demonstrated heady play when he toed the ball forward, enabling Makutu to dot down under the posts for the try, which when converted gave Fiji a 10 point advantage at 22-12. In the dying stages of the match, the Fijian half-back, Samisani Viruviru. walked through a brittle Coast defence for an easy try which Seru had no trouble converting to give his side a handsome 28-12 victory. Scorers.— Fiji: W. Gavidi 2, T. Makutu2 , S. Sergu, S. Viruviru tries, Seru 2 conversions.

West Coast: K. Glass a try, T. Kissick a conversion and two penalties.