LAUTOKA staged a late rally to narrowly defeat Ba 15-13 in the Vodafone Vanua Challenge at Nadovu Park yesterday.
The visitors gave Lautoka fright by taking a shock 13-5 lead at half time.
Ba captalised on Lautoka’s mistakes and scoring a try and two penalties in the first 32 minutes.
However the hosts regrouped at the break and managed to dominate the second spell and come out victorious.
Tailiai Turuva kicked Ba’s two penalties while Vilimoni Latianara scored the try.
Timoci Mikaele scored Lautoka’s try in the 39th minute.
Simione Butulovo sclored Lautoka’s second try in the 48th minute. Asaeli Qalova converted and then booted a penalty in the 69th minute.
Ba team manager Simione Tuivuia said it was a challenging game.
“It is the second match in the competition,” he said.
“We have a new committee for the Ba Locomotive team. I thank the boys because Lautoka is a former champion side.
“We are looking forward to the next game against Ra.”
Lautoka assistant coach Niko Qoro said lack of discipline was one major area that they needed to work on.
He said the penalty count against them was very high.
“We are happy to get the four points,” Qoro said.
“But it was catch up rugby that we played. We have to improve. There is a young squad.
“There is a lot of learning to do. We hope to pick up. There were a lot of penalties given away because of lack of discipline.”
