Nadroga Senior Mens ended McDonald’s Nadi Senior team’s unbeaten run in the Skipper Cup competition with a thrilling 20-17 victory in Round Eight at King Charles Park in Nadi today.
The visitors held their nerve in a tightly contested match as both sides fought hard for control throughout the 80 minutes.
Nadi, which had built a strong record leading the points table, was unable to maintain its unbeaten streak against a determined Nadroga outfit that arrived with a clear objective.
The match was also marked by disciplinary issues, with both teams receiving yellow cards while Nadroga was also shown a red card.
The interruptions added further tension to an already physical contest, with both sides forced to adjust their approach as players spent time off the field.
Despite the disciplinary setbacks, the match remained highly competitive, with the Nadi crowd providing strong support from the stands.
Fans from both teams were vocal throughout the contest, cheering every attacking move and defensive effort as the intensity lifted on the field.
For Nadi coach Cohan Politini, the defeat provides an opportunity for the side to assess its performance and make the necessary improvements before its next assignment.
“The team would return to the drawing board, review the areas that went wrong against Nadroga and prepare for another tough challenge against Malolo next week,” Politini said.
Nadroga manager Manueli Fumanu said the team had travelled to Nadi with the intention of defeating the home side.
“The players were prepared for the challenge and remained focused on executing their game plan,” Fumanu said.
Nadroga will now turn its attention to next week’s match against Naitasiri, while Malolo will host Nadi.
