Published in The Sunday Times on June 15, 1986
Nadroga played the offside rule once too many and Nadi’s Peter Dean brought joy to the home crowd when he dashed in for a goal and gave his side a 1-0 victory.
Dean, unmarked in the 7th minute after the half-time break, breezed through a standing Nadroga backline, who were looking for the lineman’s flag on the halfway mark.
Dean raced through and hammered past a helpless Luke Waqa in goal for Nadroga.
The game, marred by a lot of rough play by both sides, was an evenly fought affair.
Nadroga, aggressive in their approach throughout, could not get the combination upfront right and were lucky on several occasions that Waqa was cool in goalkeeping.
Nadi pressed from the opening minutes and in the 13th, a good combination between Rusiate Waqa and Manu Pokar saw Waqa’s powerful drive at goal deflected by Luke Waqa.
The sides were locked 0-0 at the break.
Three-minutes into the second half, Nadroga striker George Ali powered a shot at Savenaca Waqa who could not handle and conceded a corner.
A minute after Dean’s goal, Nadroga’s Archie Watkins was yellow-carded, along with Nadi’s Mike Ravula.
Nadi: Savenaca Waqa, Mohammed Aiyub, Peter Dean, Anare Wakawaka, Radha Krishna, Inosi Tora, Savenaca Taga, Manu Pokar, Rusiate Waqa, Kini Tubi, Mike Ravula, Orisi Nakadi for Pokar.
Nadroga: Luke Waqa, Abraham Watkins, Handela, George Ali, Radike Nawalu, Waisea Mani, Charles Work, Ilikimi Tulalevu, Jone Watisoni, Napote Gudru, Archie Watkins, Kini Vuira for Gudru.
