Briefs:Koyamaibole, Sharks break through

The Fiji Times/Google - Saturday, October 17, 2009 4:32 PM

FLYING Fijians number eight SISA Koyamibole scored a try as Sale survived a shaky start and finish to beat the Blues then claim their first Heineken Cup win of the season.

Ben Blair and Leigh Halfpenny helped kick the visitors into a 9-3 lead but Sisa Koyaimabole claimed Sale's first try without conclusively going over.

The powerful Fijian back rower, who was not named in the Flying Fijians end-of-the-year tour squad to Europe has been in great form for his new club.

Dean Schofield quickly added a second before the break and James Gaskell added a third after the restart.

Andy Powell and Robin Sowden-Taylor did claw late tries back for the Blues but it was not enough to snatch the win.

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LITTLE CAUSES HEADACHE
BATH rugby fly-half Nicky Little has received a call-up to the Fiji side for the autumn internationals and this has pity pressure on the club.

The announcement will cause Bath head coach Steve Meehan a few headaches, with Little signed over the summer as cover for the injured Butch James.

But James is not due to be fully recovered from a serious knee injury until the end of December or the start of the New Year. Little has made himself Meehan's first choice outside-half in the absence of both James and inside back Olly Barkley.

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LOVOBALAVU’S DOUBLE

GABIRIELE Lovobalavu scored two tries as Toulon beat Saracens 31-23 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Lovobalavu and Johnny Wilkinson were the stars for the Toulon side and did not allow Kameli Ratuvou's Saracens any chance of winning the match. Lovobalavu has been in good form and playing regularly for French club.

He was a utility backline reserve in the Ilivasi Tabua-coached National team that featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup

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CLUB RECORD
EAST Kilbride rugby club in the UK ended a run of four successive defeats with a 27-7 win at lowly Annan - as the first Fijian to play for the local team in over 20 years turned out for the side.

The biggest boost though was the return of Auldhouse's finest, Scotty Dalgleish from a year in Australia and he had brought one of his playing buddies from Port Adelaide, Tevita Rakisawa, who slotted in beside him at centre.

Rakisawa became the first Fijian to turn out for East Kilbride in 20 years or so, since the playing heyday of current club secretary, Malky MacDonald.

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NAQELEVUKI RESTED
SIRELI Naqelevuki will start off the reserve bench for Western Province against Bull at Newlands tomorrow in the Currie Cup in South Africa.

The big Fijian who play wing for WP is a speciualist centre for the Fiji national side.

He was not considered for the Flying Fijians end-of-the-year tour and will continue to play for his club. He has just recovered from an ankle injury.

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BUATAVA IS BACK
FORMER Flying Fijians halfback Vitori Buatava will lead the Premium Blend team in the weekend's Byron Bay Sevens in Australia.

Premium Blend will have the services of Reds player Scott Higginbotham and Australian Sevens representatives Will Brock and Paddy Dillet.

Fijian side Uprising Beach Resort coached by Rene Munch will be out to defend the title.

"We have a pretty competitive side, I think we were only a golden point away from playing the Fijian side in last year's final," Premium Blend team co-ordinator Malcolm Watts said.