The race for the Cup at the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s intensified yesterday as teams fought through the opening elimination round at Prince Charles Park in Nadi, with a mix of tight contests and dominant shutouts shaping the draw for today’s knockout stages. Winners from yesterday’s fixtures advanced to the second Cup elimination, while the beaten sides drop into the Shield competition, keeping their tournament hopes alive.
Devo Babas produced a narrow but important victory over Army Red, edging them 12-5, while Ravuka Sharks posted a more comfortable 21-7 win against Valeni Boys. A series of close results saw SR Amica squeeze past Buduka 7-5 and Flame Tree Waimanu nip Vacalea 10-7. Hosts Nawaka also progressed after a slim 7-5 triumph over Army Green, ensuring local supporters had plenty to cheer about on day one.
Several teams backed up their victories with strong defensive displays. Wardens recorded one of the round’s most emphatic wins, blanking Sabeto 28-0, and Loloma Heights shut out St Gabriel 19-0. RKS Old Boys, Fresh’et Navy, Sigatoka Young Boys and Yaro Chiefs all recorded clean sheets, beating Seniivi Rugby 10-0, Eagle Warriors 10-0, Navala Rugby 10-0 and TMC Warriors 24-0 respectively.
Bula Brothers demonstrated their attacking threat with a 21-7 win over Solevu Kings, and Village Boys secured a 20-7 victory against Draulu. Raviravi Warriors overcame Dominion Brothers 12-5, Police advanced past Pegasus 14-5, and Namara edged Naulana 7-0 in another tight contest that will see those winners meet stiffer tests in the second Cup elimination.
The outcome of yesterday’s matches has set up a full day of knockout rugby, with Cup hopefuls now preparing for the second elimination round and eliminated sides regrouping for Shield action. Tournament organisers confirmed the competition resumes today at Prince Charles Park, with coverage available live and exclusive on FBC 2 for fans unable to attend.
Yesterday’s results underline how quickly fortunes can turn in the one-day sevens format: a single loss sends a team out of Cup contention, while a narrow win can be enough to keep Cup ambitions alive. With winning teams moving deeper into the Cup race and high-profile local sides already eliminated from that bracket, today’s fixtures promise heightened intensity as teams chase silverware across both Cup and Shield competitions.
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