AFTER a five-hour delay the Fijiana XVs survived a tough Netherlands side and emerge 20 – 17 winners at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong.
Returning to the run-on side, inside center Josivini Neihamu was at her usual destructive best, linking well with fly-half Varanisese Qoro, who distributed quality flat passes in her direction.
Merewarita Neivoha keeps ticking the boxes since her move to openside flanker. The former outside center is a hybrid player who can excel in any position.
The Fijiana raced ahead by two tries to lead 12 nil before indiscipline crept in and Mereoni Nakesa was sent off for 10 minutes for a high tackle.
But the Fijiana did well not to concede any points while being a player down.
The big Netherlands forward pack tried to bulldoze their way through but the Fijiana defense held. Solid Fijiana tackles caused Netherlands to knock on and give up valuable possession.
A lapse of concentration saw the Fijiana give away easy penalties. Netherlands capitalized on the opportunity and scored a try from a driving maul.
Fijiana led 12 – 7 at half-time.
After the break, Netherlands applied pressure and were rewarded with a quick try to captain Linde van der Velden. The powerful second rower was a handful for the Fijiana all afternoon.
With that momentum the Netherlands scored again in the 56th minute but missed the conversions which would prove costly against them later on.
Selai Naliva was again the super-sub for the Fijiana this week. The replacement hooker made a number of good carriers and quality lineout throws when she was injected into the game.
Naliva crashed through five Netherlands defenders to score a try and levelled the game. Litiana Vueti missed the conversion.
Both teams were relentless in the final minutes as they strived for the win but in the end Qoro successfully kicked a penalty goal to claim the victory for the Fijiana.
