NAITASIRI maintained a dominant lead in their Skipper Cup quarter-final match against Ba to win 32-18 and book a spot in the semi-finals this week.
The victory for the Highlanders occured at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday in the second quarter-final played there, the first between Malolo and Nadroga.
Ba drew first blood with a penalty kick by fly-half William Ryland in the second minute of play, followed by another in the ninth minute.
Naitasiri added to the scoresheet with a try from FIJI Water Flying Fijians rep Kavaia Tagivetaua in the 13th minute however a missed conversion kept them at bay from leaping over Ba’s six-point lead.
Jone Naqiri copped a yellow card in the 19th minute, however in the 21st minute, Sakaraia Soqonakalou charged through with an unconverted try.
Full-back Senijiale Qiokata added to the Naitasiri side of the scoresheet with a converted try and Etonia Rokotuisawa making a clean slice between the goalposts.
The half-time score stood at 17-6 for Naitasiri and a minute after the hooter sounded for the second-half, Soqonakalou added another try to the sheet followed through with a conversion from Etonia Rokotuisawa.
At the 51st minute, a penalty kick aided Naitasiri’s extension on the scoresheet made possible by Rokotuisawa.
Ba began their attempt to bounce back in the 58th minute with an unconverted try from Meli Tuvusa.
Naitasiri copped another yellow card, this time for blindside flanker Michael Ferei.
In the 73rd minute, an unconverted try by Soqonakalou pushed the Naitasiri lead forward to a definite semi-final spot.
