Solomon Islands Powerlifting team at the Oceania Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in Niue. Photo: SINIS Media
Solomons lifters claim 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze
'Team Powerlifting' of Solomon Islands bagged three gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the Oceania Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in Niue last week.
This was confirmed by the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS).
"Two gold medals and one silver were won on Wednesday, the first day of the competition, in the Bench Press.
Another gold and a silver medal were won on day-two of the competition int he Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift, while a bronze was bagged on Friday on the final day," SINIS said in a statement.
Catherine Temete won the gold medal in the women's 69 kilogram category on the first day while Elizabeth Bisafo scooped gold in the 76kg category.
Andrew Tuhaika bagged a silver medal on the first day in the Masters 1 Category.
Bisafo claimed her second gold in the women's 74kg 'Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift' event on Day 2, while Tuhaika claimed his second silver in the Masters 1 Category.
The medal haul was completed by Michael Maomaiasi, who scopped a bronze in the men's 120 plus kg event.
Fijiana Drua suffer second loss
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua went down fighting 23-10 to a well-structured Western Force side in their Super W round four clash in Perth on Sunday.
It was their second loss in the competition so far, having gone down to the Waratahs the previous weekend.
The Drua started the game well with fullback Lavenia Tinai scoring early but lack of discipline proved a massive problem for them as they were down to 13 players for 10 minutes of the second half and played just over 45 minutes with 14.
Flanker Nunia Uluikadavu was given a yellow card in the 18th minute and another in the 34th, while reserve hooker Keleni Marawa was binned in the second half.
The Force were more consistent and efficient in the set pieces and Fijiana Drua showed only glimpses of their renowned attacking flair.
The hosts notched successive Super W wins for the first time and the victory lifted them one spot to fourth above the Brumbies, who they play in a momentous final round home clash at HBF Park next Saturday, with the winner guaranteed a top four spot.
Fijiana Drua remain in third spot and finished the game on a 24-11 penalty count.
"The girls lacked a lot of discipline this game," Fijiana Drua captain and prop Bitila Tawake told Stan Sports.
"I guess the Force wanted the win more than us, our attack let us down."
Larkham says Drua works well for Fijians
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has hailed the Fijian Drua as a team to watch and believes their performance will boost the Flying Fijians at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.
The Drua lost 43-28 to the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night in a Super Rugby Pacific clash.
"Despite losing, Drua again proved they are dangerous side, having upset reigning champions Canterbury Crusaders earlier this year," the former Wallaby pivot said.
Larkham said it boded well for Fiji's chances at the World Cup in France this year, where the Pacific nation is in Pool C alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia and Portugal.
"This competition for them is going to do them a world of good going into the World Cup," he told the media after thegame.
"They're building really good combinations."
Drua were spearheaded by skipper and fly-half Teti Tela, who said they were confident of being able to beat any team in the competition.
They have managed three wins from seven so far.
"I back my boys any day of the week to score tries," he said. "It's just the other side of the ball when we've got to hold our discipline and keep level heads."
Japan planning to bid for Rugby World Cups in 2035 and 2037
The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) has announced plans to bid for the men's and women's Rugby World Cup in 2035 and 2037 respectively.
Chairman of the JRFU Kensuke Iwabuchi has revealed that World Rugby has been informed of Japan's intent to stage the two tournaments.
The plans reported in Japanese press agency Kyodo News come as part of the JRFU's mid-term and long-term strategies.
The two editions the JRFU is interested in staging are the next two available to bid for after World Rugby announced five hosts last year.
England is due to hold the 2025 women's tournament before Australia stages the men's and women's events in 2027 and 2029 and the United States does the same in 2031 and 2033.
"We've informed them [World Rugby] that we are aiming to host then [2035 and 2037], and we will go forward looking at when the conditions will allow us to really stage it," Iwabuchi told Kyodo News.
"When we do host it, we want to be number one in the world."
Japan staged the Rugby World Cup for the first time when it held to the men's tournament in 2019 which saw the hosts make the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions South Africa.
Solomons claim Melanesian Futsal Cup
The Solomon Islands team claimed the Melanesian Futsal Cup title in Fiji last night, defeating Vanuatu 5-1 in the final.
Celvin Do'or and Charlie Otainao scored two goals each while Elis Mana added the other for the team's tally of five goals while Vanuatu's lone scorer was Billy Tamuri.
Hosts Fiji finished last after they lost to New Caledonia 2-0in the third and fourth place play-off.
Oceania Beach Soccer Nations Cup
The Oceania Beach Soccer Nations Cup, which was scheduled for June 19 in Papeete, Tahiti, has been postponed.
The tournament has been rescheduled for late August at the same venue.
The Oceania Football Confederation said the Tahiti Football Federation has been working with the local government department managing the beach soccer pitch to upgrade the sand.
It was noted some additional renovations would be needed to meet international standards, resulting in the postponement.
The OFC said it has been assured the pitch will be ready by mid-August.