Fijiana winger Vitalina Naikore was on point, scoring more than half of the home side’s points in their 32-10 defeat of the Wahine Maori at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva tonight.
Naikore scored two tries in the first half before slotting in her third in the second, plus two points from the successful conversion of only one of the Fijiana’s six tries.
Fijiana led 20-10 at half-time.
Fijiana XVs coach Senirusi Seruvakula was pleased with what he saw during the game, being able to identify their strong points, and areas that needed to be worked on before the side plays Canada, another hotly contested, next Friday.
Work-on includes their scrums, and missed conversions that overshadowed a brilliant 80-minute showing from the Fijiana XVs with the impressive bursts and great offloads using the width of the pitch.
“We are working on the scrums. We don’t have the depth chart for the front rowers. We are working on our defensive system so we know how to defend …and defend in general play,” Seruvakula said. “But, it’s good. It’s the first time for them to be playing against a big team like the Maori.”
Against Canada next week, Seruvakula is expected to make some changes including bringing in some of the Fijiana 7s o who only just returned from the Rugby World Cup 2.
Scoring Sequence (Fijian scores shown first):
Try Fijiana XVs, Joma Rubuti, conversion (missed) – 5-0
Try Wahine Maori, Merenia Paraone, conversion (missed) – 5-5
Try Fijiana, Roela Radiniyavuni, conversion (missed) – 10-5
Try Fijiana, Vitalina Naikore, conversion (missed) – 15-5
Try Fijiana, Naikore, conversion (missed) – 20-5
Try Wahine Maori, Chyna Hohepa, conversion (missed) – 20-10
Yellow Card, Fijiana, Radiniyavuni
Half-time 20-10
Yellow card, Wahine Maori, Harono Te Iringa
Try Fijiana XVs, Naikore, conversion (missed) 25-10
Try Fijiana XVs, Alowesi Nakoci, conversion Naikore – 32 -10
Full-time: 32-10
