Vinod Patel Ba men’s side produced another outstanding performance in round five of the Skipper Cup competition defeating Nadi 31-24 at Prince Charles Park yesterday.
It was a historic result for Ba, marking the first time they defeated Nadi on their home turf.
The match lived up to expectations, with both teams putting on a thrilling display of rugby. Nadi started strongly in the opening spell, controlling possession and territory to edge ahead 17-14 at halftime. The home side looked confident, backed by their vocal supporters.
But Ba returned from the break with a renewed approach, shifting their formation and applying pressure through structured plays and smart ball handling. Their forwards worked tirelessly at the breakdown, while their backs found gaps in Nadi’s defence.
The men in black eventually turned the tables, taking control of the contest and holding on in the final minutes to seal a famous 31-24 win.
Ba captain Saimone Tagitagivalu said the victory was crucial for their campaign.
“This win was important for us because our goal was to remain in the top eight. Going into the field, the message to the boys was to take away the mindset of playing in the club games so we can take on big teams like Nadi and Nadroga,” Tagitagivalu said.
He added the team’s unity in the dying stages proved to be the difference as they held off a late Nadi surge.
Meanwhile, in the U20 clash, Fiji Pine Ba overpowered Nadi 31-19.
In other western fixtures yesterday, Malolo delivered another upset by defeating Nadroga 26-24 at Lawaqa Park.
