Fasi-Ma'ufanga mauls the Toa [1]
Monday, January 7, 2008 - 16:39. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 17:37.
Fasi-Ma'ufanga beat the Toa Ko Ma'afu 10-8 to become the winner of the Golden Jubilee Toa ko Ma'afu rugby tournament at Teufaiva Stadium on Saturday, January 5 claiming a $15,000 cash prize and the Sione Vunipola Cup.
For the 6,000-7,000 spectators who packed the Teufaiva Stadium on this overcast Saturday afternoon it was a worthy final. The Toa, the favourites applied the pressure during the first 12 minutes and pushed Fasi-Ma'ufanga on their own half, but could not cross the try line. From then onward the game was up for grabs as the playing flowed from one half to the other.
About half way through the first half the Toa No. 11 scored their only try, but they missed the conversion. At half time the score was 8-3 for the Toa, being a try and a penalty conversion for the Toa and a penalty conversion for Fasi-Ma'ufanga.
There was a conviction among Toa supporters that the Toa would dominate the second half with the wind behind them, but it did not happen as the game flowed evenly from one half of the field to the other. The goal kicking by the Toa was off target despite the wind behind them.
During the last five minutes of the game Fasi-Ma'ufanga was mauling successfully, retaining the ball and threatening the Toa's try line and in a classic final push by the whole bunch of15 players they crashed over for a try. The score was then 8-8, and the pressure was on the Fasi-Ma'ufanga No 15 for the conversion. The ground was wet and there was a gusty wind so that a second player was required to keep the ball standing. The conversion was on target and it was over and the game was over, and the Fasi-Ma'ufanga supporters went wild.
The five-weeks tournament, from December 1 to January 5, attracted 14 First Grade teams and 16 Second Grade teams to compete for a total of $78,000 in cash prizes.
The cash prizes included individual prizes for awards such as the player of the tournament, best forward player, best try scorer, and the best goal kicker. Team cash prizes included prizes for the best marching teams, the best Sipi Tau and even a prize for the best recital of verses from the bible.
Prize money
The winner of the First Grade, Fasi-Ma'ufanga won a string of individual and team prizes, but for their victory over the Toa ko Ma'afu, they were awarded the Sione Vunipola Cup and $15,000 cash. The Toa in second place was also awarded a cup and $10,000 cash. The third and fourth prizes went to Spartan and Sila Peluua, with $5,500 each.
The winner of the Second Grade competition, Hofoa was awarded a trophy and $7,000. In second place was the Tonga Defence Services with $5,000, Fasi-Ma'ufanga was in third place with $3,000 and Marist in fourth place with $2,000.
Peni Kaihau, a spokesperson for the organising committee of the tournament said that the tournament was a one-off event to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Club. He said that the club has changed its name over the years. "When it was formed 50 years ago it was Tavatu'utolu, but now it is Toa ko Ma'afu."
Peni said that the enormous cash prizes were raised by the club locally and from their affiliation clubs overseas.
Following the final on Saturday, the official program for the Golden Jubilee started with a church service yesterday, "and there will sports activities today, Monday and tomorrow. Then on Wednesday there will feasting."
Peni said that the organising committee wanted to expand their activities.
"We want to become more community oriented, so instead of just focussing only on Rugby we want to get involved in other sports and to get involved in the development of the area," he said.