Fiji Warriors beat Tau'uta Reds [1]
Monday, May 25, 2009 - 13:32. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 18:56.
Tonga's Tau'uta Reds were convincingly beaten by the Fiji Warriors 40-15 at Nuku'alofa's Teufaiva Stadium on Saturday, May 23.
It was the Tau'uta Reds final game for the Pacific Rugby Cup 2009 and the last to be played at Teufaiva. The final next Saturday, May 30, has been booked by 'Upolu Samoa to be held at Apia Park, Samoa.
The Tau'uta Reds - Fiji Warriors game was a one-sided affair, the Warriors dominated all phases of the game and kept most of the play on the Tau'uta Red's side of the field.
The Tau'uta put the first points on the score board about a minute from the kick-off with a penalty conversion by their No. 10, Fokolulu Taumalolo, but five minutes later Tani Alipate equalised the score 3-3 with a penalty conversion.
Eight minutes later Tani added another three points with a penalty conversion, and the Fiji Warriors took the lead 6-3. The Tau'uta responded ten minutes later with a fast movement by the backs that ended with Tone Fukufuka crossing over the try line for the first try of the game, and the Tau'uta took the lead 8-6.
The Fiji Warriors were awarded two kickable penalty conversions but Tani missed both attempts. Bu then a few minutes before half time, the Warriors scored their first try, but again Tani missed the conversion and the Fiji Warriors took the lead 11-8. Just before half time Tani successfully converted a penalty and extended their lead to 14-8.
The Fiji Warriors scored first, 12 minutes from kick off in the second half, Tani missed the conversion and the score was 19-8. The Tau'uta fought back and 23 minutes into the second half and scored a try and it was successfully converted and it narrowed the gap to 19-15. From this point onward the Fiji Warriors took full control of the game, they scored three tries one after the other. The first two were under the posts and the third one was in a kickable position, and they were leading with a wide margin of 40-15 until full-time.
Tautahi Gold
In another weekend match between the Tautahi Gold and the Fiji Barbarians on Friday night, May 22 at Lawaqa Park, Suva, the Tautahi thrashed the Fiji Barbarians 47-15, and it left the Tautahi hoping that the Tau'uta would do the same to the Fiji Warriors at Teufaiva so that they could proceed and play the 'Upolu Samoa in the final. Unfortunately, it was not going to be as the Tau'uta Reds continued on its free-fall and losing games. So far during the Pacific Rugby Cup 2009 they have only won one match, their first game against the Savai'i Samoa at Apia Park. Since then they have lost four games in a row.