nwc2015.au/Home Fiji Pearls defeat Samoa in Oceania thriller Oceania Tri Series Tensions ran high at Suva’s Vodafone Arena last night, as the Fiji Pearls took out a nail-biting 46-44 win over Samoa, to claim second place in the inaugural Oceania Tri Series. In one of the final international hit outs for both teams before the Netball World Cup, staged in Sydney in August, the seventh-ranked Fijians received a scare from a spirited Samoan side, who are currently ranked 14th on the International Netball Federation’s (INF) world rankings., The Fijians took the opportunity to give 18-year-old Episake Kahatoka her international debut with the goal keeper impressive in her first hit out for her country. Playing in the position normally filled by Pearls captain, Mere Rabuka Neiliko, Kahatoka was outstanding against experience Samoan shooter, Monica Fuimaono. The Samoans took an early lead in the first term, with the Fijians missing opportunities inside the goal circle. However a solid performance from Vaiti Waqatabu in the centre court, backed by some solid defence from Matila Waqanidrola, saw the Pearls edge in front to lead 13-10 at the first break. In the second term Fijian shooters Nina Cirikisuva and Maria Lutua improved their shooting percentage , with the margin remaining the same at the main break with the Pearls leading ,; 24-21. The Samoans came out firing after half-time, with Fuimaono combining well with shooting partner, Julianna Na’oupu, capitalising on Fiji’s errors and narrowing the margin, with the home side taking a one goal lead into the final change, 37-36. In the final quarter neither team could hold onto momentum with the home side just sneaking across the line. Athletic in the circle, Fijian defenders Kahatoka and Waqatabu, were instrumental in handing the Pearls their first win of the series. For Fiji coach, Kate Carpenter, her side’s victory was a lucky one. I think there is a lot of learning and still got a lot of work to do and I think we need to be mentally tough and more consistent towards the end of the match, Carpenter said. Meanwhile her Samoan counterpart, Marcia Hardcastle, told the Fiji Times that although her players struggled to stick to their game plan, she was impressed with how they fought back in the second half of the match. Although all matches in the Oceania Tri Series are now complete, the Pearls will play a final match against the New Zealand Silver Ferns in Suva this evening. New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa will all compete in different pools in the preliminary stages of NWC2015 and pending results could meet each other in the qualification rounds on days five, six, seven and eight.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:57:51 +0000
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