Nabua Maroons delivered a surprising performance against Police Blue in the eighth round of the FMF Suva Rugby Escott Shield competition on Saturday. The match, which doubled as the final challenge for the Esala Teleni Shield, concluded with Nabua winning 22-17 at the USP Grounds in Laucala Bay, Suva.
This victory allows Nabua to retain the highly sought-after Esala Teleni Shield for the remainder of the season. Head coach Timoci Malumu expressed pride in the team’s preparation, noting their focus over the past two weeks leading up to the match against Police. “The team celebrated the outcome because the boys have worked hard both before and during the game to achieve this result,” he said. “We all aspire to win, and the players did everything they could to secure this victory.”
The presence of Simione Kuruvoli, scrumhalf for Flying Fijians and Fijian Drua, inspired Nabua’s players and provided motivation for the younger athletes on the sidelines. Malumu acknowledged Kuruvoli’s influence, stating, “We are grateful for Simi’s willingness to play for Nabua. The team learned a lot from him during that game, and his presence elevated the spirit of the other players.”
The match also served as preparatory grounds for Nabua as they head into the Escott Shield quarter-finals scheduled for this weekend.