Six round-robin appearances and two wins in the elimination stages later, the Namosi women’s rugby team will face Suva in the final of the Subrails Marama Cup in Suva today.
It has been a turbulent campaign for the women’s team, as they fought through stiff opposition from each team in the round-robin stages and the quarter-final and semi-final to book a ticket into the final.
They only lost two of their round-robin matches, in round three against Nadi with 19-24 and in round six against Suva, with points at 24-45.
And for its head coach Etonia Taivoce, the victory has been a long time coming for a side he said has been determined to redeem themselves at greater heights throughout the competition.
“There were many challenges we faced when we first started and as we continued in the competition, we kept on going even though we lost to Nasinu (in the round-robin) and other teams,” Taivoce said last Saturday after their 30-21 win over Nasinu.
Both sides had never met in the round-robin stages until last Saturday and the highlanders were sure to clinch a win and their ticket to the final.
“However, we kept going on because we knew we would complete this journey next week (tomorrow).
Namosi’s campaign throughout the competition was boosted with the likes of experienced players such as Josivini Naihamu, Ana Maria Roqica, Ivamere Rokowati, Rusila Nagasau and Adi Salaseini Railumu.
Meanwhile, for Suva, they are expected to come out firing strongly like Namosi as they fought a determined Kadavu in the semi-final last week.
Suva has had a dominant campaign this season, winning all their round-robin matches.
Their most notable performances were against Kadavu in round one in Nausori, where they won 69-17, a clear show of dominance over a new Kadavu team that gained its experience as competition went on and handed Suva a tough match to beat last Saturday, ending a narrow points margin for them.
They earned a ticket to the final after Younis Bese pushed through a solid Kadavu defence to touch down the winning try at full-time.
At the time, Suva coach Saiasi Koroi said their win was the result of unity present within the team and ensuring they covered all points in their quest for success in the crucial clash.
“The strength was working together as a team, as a whole so we knew Kadavu would come today (last Saturday) and we just do our part, get the basics right, listen to the referee’s call,” Koroi said.
When placing both teams head-to-head, Namosi and Suva met in last year’s Marama Cup final, where the latter triumphed with a narrow 31-29 win at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori.
The final between Namosi and Suva will be held at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva at 11am.
Following that is the Skipper Cup under-20 final between Naitasiri and Nadi.
The main final is at 3pm between Naitasiri and Malolo.
Namosi: 1-Roela Koroimarama, 2-Laisana Navukaro, 3-Siteri Makoto, 4-Rusila Nagasau, 5-Titilia Ravono, 6-Susana Maramairatei, 7-Adi Salaseini Railumu, 8-Miliana Duikoro, 9-Tokasa Seniyasi, 10-Jeniffer Ravutia, 11-Filomena Niulele, 12-Josivini Naihamu, 13-Viniana Riwai, 14-Domitila Naita, 15-Ivamere Rokowati.
Reserves: 16-Litia Marama, 17-Marica Matanawa, 18-Esita Bainiqila, 19-Vane Lolo, 20-Vive Sikisawana, 21-Ana Maria Roqica, 22-Asena Rokomarama, 23-Margaret Tabua.
Suva: 1-Tiana Robanakadavu, 2-Reape Didreuve, 3-Makereta Tunidau, 4-Tiale Rokini, 5-Asinate Serevi, 6-Carletta Yee (captain), 7-Teresia Matea, 8-Vitalina Mirini, 9-Lusiana Keperieli, 10-Livia Naidei, 11-Shanice Takayawa, 12-Loata Berenado, 13-Ema Adivitaloga, 14-Maria Rokotuisiga, 15-Luisa Tisolo.
Reserves: 16-Selai Naliva, 17-Wainikiti Vasuturaga, 18-Elizabeth Mainakavika, 19-Elenoa Matanisiga, 20-Lavenia Tinai, 21-Younis Bese, 22-Kasanita Namoce, 23-Varitema Adi.
