NAURU was crowned the 2015 Australian Football League U15 Oceania Cup winners at Furnival Park in Toorak, Suva.
The Zac Temaki-coached side beat Fiji by 17 points. The final score was 7-6-48 to 5-1-31.
Mason Hubert was Nauru’s hero. He scored three goals for 18 points. Suli Edward was Fiji’s leading scorer. Edward kicked two goals for 12 points.
Nauru came into the grand final on the back of four wins from as many round-robin matches and led from the start to finish. The side led by six points after the first quarter and 26-6 at half time.
A strong display by the host team helped them win the third quarter 18-7 but Fiji still trailed the visitors by nine points. The score after the end of third quarter was 33-24.
Nauru coach Temaki was overjoyed with the final result.
“It was a very tight game,” he said.
“There was a lot of pressure.”
Temaki said Fiji came out strong in the second and third quarters. “Since we in Nauru know how to play the footie than the Fijians, that’s why we can control the game.”
Fiji coach Maciu Raida was gracious in defeat.
“These young kids have been terrific from the first day of the tournament.
“I thank the boys for today’s (yesterday) game,” he said.
Raida said a slow start proved costly. “Early mistakes helped Nauru open up a good lead,” he said.
AFL development manager South Pacific Ben Drew said he would announce the tournament’s top players later.
The top 10-15 players will be selected for a South Pacific team to play in the Queensland state U16 championship.
