Steelers crushed
The Islands Electric Lautoka Crushers team celebrate after winning the U18 final during the Vodafone Fiji National Rugby League Cup final at Buckhurst Park yesterday. Photo: JONA KONATACI
Islands Electric Lautoka Crushers was the better side yesterday when they crushed the Lami Steelers 26-5 in the Vodafone Cup Under-18 final.
Led by Central College Lautoka U18 captain Tikiko Noke, the Crushers scored the first try of the game after Steelers Alipate Varia slotted a field goal.
Showing their capability, the Crushers scored another try through Asaeli Sorovaki extending their lead 8-1 at halftime.
The Natabua side came back into the second spell rejuvenated to dot down two more tries, a conversion and a penalty. And Steelers tried to make a comeback in the 28th minute but the try to Watisoni Ratulevu was too little too late.
Now the message from Crushers coach and former Fiji Bati rep Mesake Navugona is loud and clear to their premier reps for next season- ‘perform or ship out.’
Navugona said the U18 players have been together since age nine and with their performance yesterday, taking the U18 reps to play in the premier division next season was on his mind.
“The win today was not by fluke, the development programme that we have been doing has now come to fruition.
“I can’t rely on the premier grade next season and with the achievement today, I hope FNRL takes the competition two more levels down to begin from U10. Hopefully, they will find the money to fund this,” Navugona said.
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Posted by newsroom
on September 16, 2012. Filed under Fiji Sports.
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