Fiji goes down in the wet

Fiji Times - Saturday, June 14, 2008 6:44 PM

WHAT could have been confused with an Olympic swimming trial opened up round two of the Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka, Fiji with the New Zealand Maori clinching a tight 11-7 win over the home nation.

With a considerable portion of the ground swamped it took match officials some time to declare the match would go ahead.
Maori second five-eighths Tamati Ellison added the first points in the atrocious conditions when he kicked over an easy penalty kick in the 13th minute.
Both teams did the best they could in the conditions although it was the big Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki who charged down a Chris Smylie kick to score the first try of the drizzly afternoon.
Fullback Taniela Rawaqa converted the try shortly before the half time whistle to take a 7-3 lead at the break.
The flooding had all but drained away by the time the players re-entered the field to begin the second half, giving the impression the game would finally open up.
Although it took the Maori the best part of 20 minutes in the second half to finally find some form and its great play was rewarded when lock Jason Eaten drove over to score the second five-pointer of the afternoon.
The conversion attempt was wayward but the New Zealand Maori now had an 8-7 lead in the tough encounter.
The conditions dictated most of the second half as knock-ons, forward passes and various other unforced errors halted any notion of continuous play.
Replacement first five-eighths Callum Bruce kicked a penalty for the New Zealand Maori to stretch the lead to four points with just four minutes of play remaining.
Fiji was awarded a crucial turnover as they looked for a last minute try to clinch the win however the defence was too good and the Maori claimed the 11-7 win after Piri Weepu booted the ball into touch.
Fiji 7
Try: Naqelevuki
Conversion: Rawaqa
NZ Maori 11
Try: Eaten
Penalties: Ellison, Bruce