Babas let game slip away: Bola

Fiji Times - Sunday, April 20, 2008 8:09 AM

SAVAI'I SAMOA 17, FIJI BARBARIANS 13 FIJI Barbarians captain Kelemedi Bola admitted his side threw the game away in a 13-17 loss to Savai'i Samoa in their Pacific Rugby Cup clash at Apia Park yesterday.

The Barbarians had the match in the bag as they led 13-10 with five minutes to go.

"We threw the game away," Bola said after the thriller

"I am so disappointed. We had it wrapped up but a simple mistake cost us full points. We now must put our campaign in a positive direction. "I just want to say sorry to the Fijian supporters here who cheered us on every minute of the game.

"We are equally disappointed we couldn't win this game for you."

Savai'i Samoa center, Reupena Levasa was the hero as he smashed through the Barbarians to score at the death to put a gutsy Barbarians side to the sword

"Thank the Lord we won," was the reaction of Savai'i Captain Ponifasio Vasa after the match.

"I am so proud of the boys, they fought from the beginning till the end, and I am just so happy they came through for the country.

"It was a tough match, and credit goes to the Fijian side. They really came here determined to win, but our boys did a fantastic job," said Vasa.

The Barbarians were leading 13-10 with five minutes remaining, when Savai'i threw down the gauntlet.

Savai'i used the power of their forwards to attack the Fijian defence.

It went phase after phase as the Savai'i forward pack hammered away to be five metres from the tryline.

However, the Barbarians secured a turned over and tried to kick the ball out to end the game.

The ball didn't find touch and Savai'i made sure the Barbarians paid dearly for their mistake.

The forwards took it to the Barbarians before feeding Levasa with a tight pass to smash over the tryline and snatch the winner.

Savai'i started the match off poorly by throwing away possession and conceded two penalty goals while missing three of their own.

The Barbarians took the first half 6-0 as they forced errors out of the hosts.

But most of the time, the Savai'i team would kick when they shouldn't, and run when they shouldn't. The Barbarians capitalised as they used the speed of the backs to slice through weak Savai'i defence.

However, Savai'i fired back in the second half through Alafoti Faosiliva who stole the lead for his team with a converted try.

Ki Anufe, extended his team's advantage 10-6 moments later with a penalty goal.

However, with 10 minutes remaining, the Barbarians struck back through winger Vima Tuidraki, who in a solo effort scored a try from broken play.

He sped around a defender to run 50m to score. Amani Bosenawai converted the try to put his team ahead 13-10.

The Fijian supporters roared, but they were put to silence when Levasa delivered the goods with his last second try.

"It was a close game, but for the team to comeback and take the lead twice, it was very intense.

"But we did it, and it is the start we wanted.

"We now have to build on our win and clean up our mistakes for the Fiji Warriors next week in Savai'i," Vasa said.