The referee was quick to remind BA (G) that over keenness
to commit to tackle and keeping them low was illustrated
when the yellow card was produced. This did not deter
the team from punishing the opponents for awareness
of space and good vision with some great tries backed
up with sheer pace by Cpl ‘ Rusi ‘Komaiyasa
(1 Med Regt), LCpl ‘Joe’
Vimataki (4 SCOTS) with the final score being
a well deserved victory of 26:10 to BA (G). The overall performance was not as steady as one would have liked but the team realised that this would be overcome once the team managed to get into its stride as the tournament progressed. The team were hit by unfortunate injuries to Skipper 2Lt 'Ben' McNeil (SCOTS DG) with his ankle and Rfn 'Jonah' Lakoisolomone (5 RIFLES), hamstring but this did not phase the team. Team Captaincy was handed to Army player LCpl 'Jim' Tuitubou (SCOTS DG) who stepped up effortlessly exemplifying and displaying all his experience and guile in leading from the front continuously.
The next subsequent games saw the team settle down
into their patterns and manage to get their shape with
using all the principles as previously taught in ensuring
that they make it through the preliminary stages into
the Final. There were some sterling performances of
bone crunching tackles turning over defence ball into
attack from LCpl 'Mat' Laveta and Hldr
'Inoke' Tamaileba (4 SCOTS). This enabled
the ball to be recycled quickly and to unleash real
talented strike runners out wide in Cfn 'Api'
Apimeleki (200 SIG SQN).
LCpl 'Ruben 'Waqaitirewa (5 RIFLES) was the playmaker for the
team and many a time settled the team into their patterns
effortlessly making a step before turning on the pace
to outsmart defenders. Any 7s team needs it's reserves
and this was provided by the ever redoubtable pair of
LCpl 'Paul' Iranatora (5 RIFLES) , and
Pte 'Joe' Nakuta (8 REGT RLC) who deputised
well showing deft of hand and pace to burn consistently. This was demonstrated as the team went on to win the next
games as follows:
- BA (G) 21 : 5 Frankfurt 1880 Black
- BA (G) 34 : 0 Frankfurt 1880 Red
- BA (G) 40 : 5 Frankfurt Barbarians
We also found out that we had inherited 2 of the team ice bath dodgers in Cpl 'Rusi' komaiyasa (1 MEDREGT) and LCpl 'Mat' Saulailai (SCOTS DG) both either missing in action or reluctant to enter when told to get into the baths by Maj (Retired) Russ Booth our resident sports injuries trainer.
The final saw us come against our toughest opponents of the day which had some New Zealand, South African and Australian Ex Super 14 players and also including a Fijian born player Naivalu who had played for USA, who were now playing for Frankfurt 1880. Once again under the tutelage of Skipper LCpl 'Jim' Tuitubou (SCOTS DG) all of the players knew what had to be done in order for them to win, and a quiet resolve was held by the team as they moved into the final game. BA (G) drew first blood as they quickly ran in 2 quick tries thanks to some scintillating speed outpacing the defence by LCpl 'Joe' Vimataki (4 SCOTS) and Cpl 'Rusi' Komaiyasa 14:0. Frankfurt Black came back showing their expertise in scoring a try under the posts albeit from a dodgy referee decision of a forward pass from the Frankfurt referee. 14:7.
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