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OCEANIA
RUGBY TOURNAMENT UNVEILS NEW FACES |
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By Peter Rees |
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With legendary former All Black and Manu Samoa coach Laauli Michael
Jones patrolling the sidelines, notebook in hand, there was more than
enough motivation for the four Samoan teams participating in the
inaugural Oceania Provincial Rugby Union Tournament at Otahuhu’s
Sturges Park.
A total of eight teams lined up for this tournament, the brainchild of
former Manu Samoa captain Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa, a current
executive member of the Auckland Samoa Rugby Football Union (ASRFU) –
which hosted and organised the tournament – and also an assistant coach
for Manu Samoa. Papaliitele is famous for leading Manu Samoa at its
very first World Cup campaign in 1991 where they stunned the rugby
world by beating Wales, Argentina, losing narrowly to the Australian
Wallabies before making the quarterfinals.
The purpose of the tournament was to identify new talent for future
Manu Samoa representation with little opportunity available to expose
prospective young players coming through the ranks. Next year will be
an important one for the Samoa Rugby Union preparing for its World Cup
qualifying series against Fiji and Tonga in June/July 2005. The top two
teams qualify automatically for the 2007 World Cup which will be held
in France.
From Samoa, the Apia and Apia West Union representative sides made the
trip to Auckland as the two top ranked teams from the country’s recent
national provincial championship. Two teams lined up representing the
ASRFU; the Auckland Samoa rep team and the Auckland Samoa A team. These
teams were made up of Samoans playing in both the Auckland domestic
club premiership and the ASRFU club competition. Complimenting the four
sides were four invited teams from other Pacific communities in
Auckland; Auckland Tonga, Auckland Niue, Auckland Maori and Auckland
Cook Islands.
Senior officials from the Samoa Rugby Union were also in attendance to
analyse the talent on display and widen their knowledge of the player
pool available. It was regretted that the Samoan unions in Wellington
and Christchurch, as well as from Australia were unable to enter teams
which would have given the selectors even more food for thought.
The Samoan teams made a clean sweep of the first round games on 6
November. |
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The Apia Union team celebrate winning the Oceania Provincial
Rugby Union Tournament after beating rivals Apia West in the
final.
(Photo –
Samoa Post Newspaper) |
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Oceania Provincial Rugby Toournament runners up Apia West keep
their heads high despite going down in the final to Apia Union.
(Photo
- Samoa Post Newspaper) |
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Auckland Maori wins this lineout against Auckland Samoa A at the
Oceania Provincial Rugby Tournament.
(Photo –
ASRFU)
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Auckland Samoa A proved too good for the Auckland Maori side running
out 20-12 victors. Apia Union overpowered Auckland Tonga 39-0 in a
physical contest, Apia West romped to an easy 61-0 win over the hapless
Auckland Cook Islands team while Auckland Samoa dispatched of Auckland
Niue without breaking a sweat.
The Cup and Plate semis on 10 November saw the Samoan teams meet for
the first time. In a tight contest, Auckland Samoa was edged by the
fitter Apia West team 27-18. Apia Union also found the going tough
against the Auckland Samoa A team, but their speed out wide eventually
gave them a 31-20 victory. Auckland Maori beat Auckland Tonga 28-10
while Auckland Cook Island beat Auckland Niue in the plate semis.
Finals day on 13 November saw the much anticipated showdown between the
two Samoa teams Apia West and Apia Union. Both teams were filled with
national sevens and fifteens reps. However, in the end the Apia Union
prevailed 24-16 behind the steady boot of their impressive fullback
Lolo Lui who was one of the tournament stars. Veteran halfback and
captain Matthew Mualia accepted the winners trophy in the prizegiving
ceremony held after the final.
In other matches, Auckland Maori won the plate by defeating Auckland
Cook Islands 41-12. The Manusina Women’s national team also played Lofa
Tonga in the final of their competition thrashing them 80-0.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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