The Vanuabalavu rugby team delivered an impressive performance, clinching a thrilling 22-16 victory over Covenant Red in round nine of the FMF Suva Rugby Union Koroturaga competition. The match took place at the Suva Grammar grounds, where both teams showcased strong defensive abilities in the first half, ending with a narrow score of 10-8 in favor of Vanuabalavu.
In the second half, Covenant Red took a brief lead with a penalty kick from Lock Pio Nasau, making the score 11-10. However, Vanuabalavu responded with two notable tries, pushing their advantage to 22-11. Although Covenant Red managed to score a try late in the game, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, and Vanuabalavu secured the win with a final score of 22-16.
Vanuabalavu’s head coach, Niumaia Serevi, praised both teams for their efforts and highlighted Covenant Red’s strong showing. He remarked, “It was really a great game; Covenant really gave us a great game.” Serevi noted the intense nature of the first half and emphasized the necessity for his players to maintain ball possession and focus on defense in the second half.
He acknowledged that the team needed to improve their set-pieces ahead of the next match and expressed gratitude towards the players, supporters, and fans of Vanuabalavu, dedicating the victory to everyone who has contributed to the team’s journey.