WAME Ratuva played an instrumental role in securing Yaro Chiefs’ first McDonald Coral Coast Fiji 7s title after a powerful 28-12 win over the Ravuka Sharks in the men’s cup final yesterday.
Ratuva helped set up tries during the match, including their second try in the first half when he was heading towards it but tackled by a Ravuka Sharks player.
He then passed it on to Hickes Edward who drove it on to add a converted try.
For the Vunavutu, Nadroga player, he shared the main message that drove his team to a resounding victory.
“I told the boys throughout the week that it’s not how we start the race, it’s how we finish the race and we are thankful that we were able to achieve what we had set out to do,” Ratuva said.
“We were able to do so after sacrificing a lot to be here in the past few weeks.”
Besides the final, he also aided the Yaro Chiefs in securing the winning ticket to the cup final, when he crossed the try-line during extra time in their cup semi-final match against Police Blue.
In that time, Ratuva thought of how vital it would have to be for his entire team to push that win through, in light of what they had gone through as a team to get to that crucial point in time.
“The entire team had no more energy to go on in the game and I’m thankful to God for His help because if it weren’t for Him, we would not have won against Police in that very match,” he recalled.
Entering the cup final, he said the team’s main focus was to ensure they set out to achieve what they had to do since entering the tournament.
“I told the boys that it came down to whoever was wanting this win the most would get it after all.”
The Yaro Chiefs also walked away with $50,000 in prize money.
