Pasifika Sipoti wrap – results from the weekend

Noumea side claim Oceania futsal title

New Caledonia’s AS PTT claimed the OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League in Noumea, following their 4-3 victory over Mataks FC on Sunday.

OFC reoported the home side was roared on by a large crowd of nearly two thousand at the ‘Arene du Sud’ in Paita.

The two teams had fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw when they met in round robin play on Wednesday.

The action was intense from the outset, as the home side went to work early.

Christ Pei missed an early opportunity before Jymaẽl Upa opened the scoring.

Mataks FC captain Ellis Mana produced a moment of brilliance in the 15th minute to level the scores for the Solomon Islands side and the two sides went to the break levelled.

AS PTT started the second half as they did the first, with a quickfire goal through Emmanuel Hmaen three minutes after the restart.

Mataks FC were determined to leave it all on the court, in the final 13 seconds of the game Mataks Billy Afi scored the final goal of the match leaving the score 4-3 to AS PTT.

Vanuatu clubside UNV FC defeated Fiji’s Suva FC 2-0 to claim the bronze medal.

It took 37 minutes and 41 seconds to score the first goal of the third and fourth place playoff.

The Vanuatu and Fiji club champions couldn’t be separated for much of an extremely even contest. But the Fijian side got into foul trouble and conceded a 10-metre penalty with just two minutes and 44 seconds remaining.

Up stepped UNV FC captain Rene Bahormal whose initial attempt was saved by Kitione Baleloa in the Suva FC goal. But he followed up the rebound and drilled into the left-hand corner of the net. Another penalty soon followed, converted by Yassin

Vanuatu cricketers go down in second game

Vanuatu lost their second pool game at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Netherlands defeated the side by 100 runs at the Tolerace Oval.

ICC media said Netherlands’ opener and skipper Heather Siegers was the first fall, bowled by Selina Solman for six runs.

The experienced Sterre Kalis and Babette de Leede ensured the Netherlands rebuilt quickly, taking their side to 49/1 in the Powerplay with a 16-run sixth over.

The duo stitched together a 43-run stand before Nasimana Navaika dismissed de Leede caught and bowled for 18 (16).

Kalis continued to control the game from her end and brought up her sixth T20I fifty off 40 balls as she added another 20 in her next 11 deliveries to finish with 70 off 51. Kalis’ knock helped the

Netherlands to a total of 154/6.

Vanuatu looked troubled from the start in their chase, losing wickets at crucial intervals. Rachel Andrew was the first wicket to fall. Iris Zwilling snared Andrew’s wicket for six runs.

The Netherlands’ Silver Siegers (2/11) and Caroline de Lange (2/8) grabbed two wickets each while Merel Dekeling finished with 1/7. And with three run-outs of Valenta Langiatu, Maiyllise Carlot and Vanessa Vira, Netherlands bowled Vanuatu out for 54 with only Gillian Chilia (11*) going past double figures.

Fijians lose Super W crown

The Waratahs were too strong as they smashed the Fijian Drua women 50-14 to reclaim the Super W rugby title in Brisbane on Sunday.

Drua head coach Mosese Rauluni congratulated the new champions and his own team.

But he added the Drua women missed opportunities and indiscipline cost them a three-peat.

Three yellow cards and a red card for the Drua were too much he said.

The Waratahs scored three tries in seven minutes in the second half when the Drua were down in numbers to avenge their defeats in the 2022 final and 2023 semi-final.

Rauluni said his players did not take their chances.

‘We missed a lot of opportunities in the first half, a few balls that went down on the floor but we can’t make excuses now that chance has gone,” he said after the game.

“That’s what we said before the game. Don’t let opportunities go.

“Unfortunately for us we gave away some penalties, discipline and yellow cards. They really cost us.”

Rauluni is expected to name a number of the players in the Fiji national team to compete in the Oceania Championship at the Gold Coast in Australia in June.

Drua out-scores Moana in Lautoka

The Fijina Drua consolidated their seventh position on the Super Rugby Pacific points table following their 24-17 victory in Lautoka.

Saturday’s win was also revenge for the side, who had lost the Pasifika team battle in early March.

Drua winger Taniela Rakuro scored two tries in the match while his partner winger Selesitino Ravutaumada claimed one.

The home side led 17-0 at halftime.

Moana Pasifika responded with a try of their own through Henry Taefu when the second half resumed.

Rakuro scored his second try in the 68th minute but Moana replied with a classic lineout move that saw captain Sione Havili Talitui diving over from short range.

Replacement hooker Sama Malolo also added one more but the Drua defense stood their ground in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Moana has now dropped to ninth position on the points table.

Blues win in late rally

Blues halfback Sam Nock scored in extra time as the Blues denied the Reds a famous victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Blues won 41-34 but not before the Reds looked on track for the biggest win of their season after a stunning hat-trick from 20-year-old winger Tim Ryan on his starting debut put them 31-20 clear.

But the powerful Blues somehow found an answer, scoring three tries in the match’s last 13 minutes – including one deep into additional time – to sink their rivals in the end.

The visitors had only tied the scores on 75 minutes through bench prop Kurt Eklund, with dynamic No.8 Hoskins Sotutu sparking their late rally six minutes earlier.

It was the Blues’ sixth straight win to sit one point behind the ladder-leading Hurricanes, although the Reds delivered another reminder their best rugby can challenge the competition’s best.

Brumbies shock Hurricanes

The ACT Brumbies handed the unbeaten Hurricanes their first loss of the season with a 27-19 win at GIO Stadium on Saturday.

Power-running and a clinical display from their forward pack helped the Brumbies sprint away to an early 24-5 lead they would never relinquish, handing the visitors their first loss of the season.

It was the Brumbies’ first win of the season against a top-four side, having fallen short against the Chiefs and the Blues.

They also kept their home record intact, not letting the Hurricanes win in Canberra since 2017.

Moana coach lament lack of home crowd

Moana Pasifika coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga says the lack of home crowd support is something they miss.

He told the media in Lautoka on Saturday the Fijian Drua is lucky to have their own fans supporting them at home.

Umaga said they are still trying to secure a home ground, unlike the Drua who are based in Nadi.

He believes having a home ground and fans helps.

“We talk about it definitely! About the amount of support and we’re abit envious and obviously we struggle to find a home at the moment and it is hard to get a home crowd behind us,” he said.

“But we do have some loyal supporters and we want to repay their faith in terms of supporting us through thick and thin and that’s more tough for them.”

Moana Pasifika includes Tongan and Samoan players.

Last year they played a home game in Apia and this weekend they are going to Nuku’alofa in Tonga for their first game there.

Crusaders crush Rebels

The Crusaders crushed the Melbourne Rebels 39-0 on Friday night.

The fourth-ranked Rebels had won their previous three games to insert themselves in the finals frame.

But they were taught a tough lesson by the defending champions, who are struggling to find form.

Number eight Christian Lio-Wllie and flanker Cullen Grace put the Crusaders 10-0 clear in 17 minutes. The floodgates really opened late with three second-half tries against a broken Rebels outfit.

Owen Franks, Sevu Reece and Johnny McNicholl scored tries late in the second half.

It was just the Crusaders’ second win of the campaign, but they immediately jumped into tenth spot.

Chiefs outclass Waratahs

The Chiefs have delivered a blow to the NSW Waratahs’ Super Rugby Pacific season, coming from behind for a 38-22 win at Allianz Stadium.

Leading 12-0 after 20 minutes, the Waratahs looked on course for easily their biggest scalp of the season before the Hamilton-based outfit reeled off five consecutive tries to turn the contest on its head.

The Waratahs have only won twice this season – both times against the Crusaders – but could have moved into the top eight with a victory on Friday night.

Three Chiefs tries in the 20 minutes after halftime meant that wouldn’t happen.

Fiji Rugby – Nadi ends Suva’s unbeaten run

Nadi have stopped Suva’s unbeaten run in the FRU Skipper Cup competition.

A tough 17-12 win at Prince Charles Park on Friday night means the capital city side’s eight straight wins were undone.

Winger Mosese Naura scored two tries for Nadi while former Fijian Drua fly half Serupepeli Vularika added seven points from his kicking boot.

Results of FRU competition matches:Skipper Cup – Senior: Nadi 17 Suva 12, Naitasiri 22 Ba 13, Yasawa 35 Namosi 25, Macuata 22 Tailevu 15, Lautoka 10 Nadroga 5′ Under-20s: Naitasiri 26 Ba 5, Yasawa 10 Namosi 10, Nadroga 31 Lautoka 21, Suva 30 Nadi 15.

Marama Championship – Senior: Naitasiri 65 Navosa 5, Namosi 39 Yasawa 38, Nasinu 62 Tailevu 7, Nadroga 34 Lautoka 29, Suva 51 Nadi 15; Under-20s: Navosa 26 Naitasiri 22, Namosi 14 Yasawa 0, Lautoka 29 Nadroga 24, Suva 37 Nadi 24.

Ranadi Cup: Kadavu 40 Macuata 18, Cakaudrove 27 Vatukoula 22.

Vanua Cup: Cakaudrove 25 Vatukoula 22, Taveuni 22 Malolo 17.

Fiji name squad for Singapore 7s

Fiji sevens coach Osea Kolinisau has made some changes to his squad that played at the Hong Kong sevens earlier this month.

He is in Singapore now with the men’s team, which includes veteran Sevuloni Mocenacagi.

Alaos recaklled are Iowane Teba, Terio Veilawa, Kaminieli Rasaku and Ropate Rere.

Retained from the Hong Kong squad are Joseva Talacolo, Viliame Naikausa, Manueli Maisamoa, Rupeni Kabu, Pilipo Bukayaro, Vatemo Ravouvou, Joji Nasova, Filipe Sauturaga and Ponipate Loganimasi.

Kolinisau said the changes are being made to give everyone a chance before the Paris Olympics in July.

Capital city side lose again

Suva has suffered another big loss in the Fiji FA Premier League competition, going down 4-2 to Lautoka at the weekend.

Media reports said the side can miss the annual Fiji FACT event if they do not start winning matches soon.

The side sit at the bottom of the league points table at the moment.

Results from the weekend: Nadi 1 Rewa 1, Tailevu Naitasiri 2 Nadroga 0, Nasinu 3 Navua 1, Labasa 3 Ba 3.

Samoa school rugby

Amoa College and Safata College have claimed the Under-18 rugby titles at the Samoa National Schools Rugby Championships.

Amoa claimed the boys’ title while Safata took out the girls crown on Saturday.

Final results – Under-18 boys: won by Amoa College. Amoa 18 St Joseph’s College 17; Under-18 girls: Safata College 27 Palauli ‘I Sisifo College 22; Under-16 boys: Leulumoega Fou College 20 St Joseph’s College 10; Undwer-16 girls: Wesley College 19 Ito ‘o Tane College 12; Under-14 boys: Leulumoega Fou College 13 Wseley College 10; Under-14-girls: St Joseph’s College 38 Church College Pesega 15.