The Fiji Bulikula team took a significant step toward their World Cup aspirations with a commanding 18-6 win over the Cook Islands Moana during their Pacific Bowl match at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. Vitalina Naikore, a former Fijiana Drua winger, was the standout player, scoring three tries that helped secure the victory for her team.
Both teams started the match with some errors in front of a crowd exceeding 3,000 spectators. The Cook Islands managed to score the first try in the ninth minute through prop Kerehitina Matua, capitalizing on a vital mistake by Bulikula. Fiji quickly answered back, with captain Talei Holmes scoring a converted try in the 17th minute after a period of sustained pressure on the Cook Islands’ defense.
Second rower Nanise Vakacavu also made a significant impact with powerful runs and well-timed offloads on the left side, consistently troubling the Cook Islands throughout the match. The Bulikula’s victory was largely attributed to their strong defensive performance, which kept the Cook Islands from scoring for the majority of the game.
After the match, captain Talei Holmes expressed her excitement about leading her team to victory and thanked the enthusiastic crowd for their support. “It’s a massive performance. I still can’t believe it, and the crowd was amazing,” said Holmes. She also looked ahead to their upcoming match against Samoa. “We utilized that strong defense in the first half; we knew we could do it and we did it.”
Head coach Joe Rabele praised Holmes for her leadership and experience, which were pivotal to the team’s success. “I’m so happy for the performance and proud of Talei for leading the team,” Rabele stated. “That’s why we chose her for her experience since she has been with us since 2019, and I am proud of her leadership of the young Bulikula girls.”
This victory not only secured a place in the next round against Samoa but also kept the Bulikula’s World Cup hopes alive. The Bulikula will face Samoa next week in Auckland for a chance to advance further in the tournament.
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