FOR the second successive season, the Fiji Pine Ba Under 20s have reached the Skipper Cup semi-finals, an impressive feat that underlines the value of the development work currently being undertaken in the province.
“These young boys have done so well,” BRU Secretary Gaby Kautoga said, “They are Ba’s future.”
Despite a red card to prop Semi Rokoua early in the second half of their Quarter-final which allowed Tailevu to draw level at 20-20, the young guns from Ba held firm as star centre Viliame Gaunavinaka scrambled over the line for the winning try after the hooter.
This was Gaunavinaka’s eighth try of the campaign and probably his most important.
This Ba team returns to Prince Charles Park today for their semi-final against hosts Nadi, the team that beat them at the same stage in 2025 and also in the 2024 Quarter-finals.
“The Ba U20s managed to defeat Nadi in pool play in 2024 and 2025, but so far they have had the measure of us in the knock-out stages,” Talatala Gaby said.
“We will never underestimate Nadi; as they are the defending champions, we know they are favourites.”
The Ba boys had an excellent start to their Quarter-final against Tailevu, with first-half tries from Gaunavinaka, flanker Akuila Barua and skipper/lock Aminio Seruinoka giving them a 20-8 lead at the interval.
But Rokoua’s red card changed the momentum of the game, handing Tailevu a boost and leaving Ba to defend their line for most of the second half.
Two tries to wing Samisoni Leleca midway through the half locked the scores at 20-20, and with Ba a man down, the odds turned in Tailevu’s favour.
“Had we not gone on to win the game, we would have felt extremely disappointed,” Kautoga said. “The boys had played so well in the first half, dominating most facets of play, but the red card changed everything.”
“It’s a lesson for the players.
“Even though we have stressed again and again the importance of discipline, too many red cards have been received throughout the three Ba teams this year.”
After the hooter, with Tailevu still in ascendency, Ba fullback Isoa Tagi made a break from his own half right up to the Tailevu 5-metre line.
Two phases later, Gaunavinaka forced his way over the line for the winning score and the signal for wild celebrations.
“That was such a relief,” Kautoga admitted.
“Now we can regroup, work on our weaknesses and come back to the Park to challenge Nadi once more.”
The Skipper Cup U20s Semi-final between Nadi and Ba kicks off at Prince Charles Park today at 11am.
