Tonga kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 victory over American Samoa. Photo: OFC Media via Tonga FA
Tonga and Solomons unbeaten at OFC Under-16 event
Host Tonga and Solomon Islands clash in the second round of the 'OFC Under-16 Men's Championship 2024 - Qualifying' tournament in Nuku'alofa on Tuesday.
OFC Media said both teams were unbeaten following the first round of matches last Saturday.
Tonga kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 victory over American Samoa.
Solomon Islands opened the tournament in a big way, thrashing Papua New Guinea 14-0.
On Saturday, it was Solomons who set the stage for some exciting field action.
OFC Media said they started straight from the opening whistle with a goal after five minutes from Ashley Kwaimasia, who beat PNG goalkeeper Alexander Possiri with his attempt.
Three minutes later Jimmy Loben added to the tally before Patty Kenimoi, Kwaimasia and Carlwin Wane all added goals for the team to lead 5-0 at half-time.
The second half saw a total of nine more goals added, starting with one from the penalty spot by skipper Kennedy Sihu.
Kenimoi scored four goals in the game while Kwaimasia claimed a hat-trick.
Meanwhile, Tonga gave their fans something to cheer about as they claimed a win over the American Samoans.
They led 1-0 after the first spell of 45 minutes.
In the second half, Tonga's Siaki Lonitenisi set up substitute Tupou Havea, who notched their second goal before Talaiasi Faluku nailed the game with his goal in the 69th minute.
Tuesday's second-round battle between the two winners will determine who takes out the top spot.
Papua New Guinea and American Samoa will be battling to secure a win too in their clash.
East Pacific tennis wraps up in Tahiti
Five countries competed at the 2024 East Pacific Junior Regional Championships in Papeete, Tahiti last week.
Teams in the under-12 to the under-16 grades were from Tahiti, Samoa; Cook Islands, Tonga and American Samoa.
The final results:
- U-12s Girls Team: Gold- Tahiti, Silver- Samoa, Bronze- American Samoa
- U-12s Boys Team: Gold - Tahiti, Silver - American Samoa, Bronze - Samoa
- U-14s Girls Singles: Gold - American Samoa, Silver - Samoa, Bronze - Tahiti
- U-14s Girls Doubles: Gold - American Samoa, Silver - Tahiti
- U-14s Boys Singles: Gold - Tahiti, Silver - American Samoa, Bronze - Tahiti
- U-14s Boys Doubles: Gold - Tahiti, Silver - Samoa
- U-16s Girls Singles: Gold - Cook Islands, Silver - Samoa, Bronze - Tahiti
- U-16s Girls Doubles: Gold - Cook Islands, Silver - Samoa
- U-16s Boys Singles: Gold - Tahiti, Silver - Samoa, Bronze - Tahiti
- U-16s Boys Doubles: Gold - Tahiti, Silver -Tahiti
North Marianas qualifiers completed
The North Pacific Regional Qualifiers tournament for junior tennis players was completed in Saipan, Marshall Islands on Saturday.
Oceania Tennis said it was a success, congratulating winners and participants for their outstanding contributions and efforts throughout the event.
"The atmosphere was electric as competitors showcased their skills and determination on the court," it said.
"As the final matches concluded, it was evident that every player had left their heart and soul on the court. Their commitment to the sport and their relentless pursuit of excellence deserve recognition and applause."
The results:
- U12 Girls Singles: 1. Stella Choi (NMI), 2 - Emma Lang(NMI)
- U12 Boys Singles: 1- Camelo Chen(GUM), 2 -Rafael Villaflor(GUM)
- U14 Girls Singles; 1 - Anne Lee (NMI), 2 - Faith Perera (NMI)
- U14 Boys Singles: 1 - Jacob Hsiao (GUM), 2 - Jeren Devera (GUM)
- U16 Girls Singles: 1 - Leila Mercado (GUM), 2 - Hoo Wang (NMI)
- U16 Boys Singles - 1- Nason Wessel (NMI), 2 - Si Woo Lee (NMI)
- U14 Boys Doubles - 1. Jacob Hsiao/Jeren Devera (GUM), 2 - Matthew Hwang/JiHun Park (NMI)
- U14 Girls Doubles: 1 - Anne Lee/Lina Tsukagoshi (NMI), 2- Kenna Pascual/Vivian Chung (NMI)
- U16 Boys Doubles - 1 - Nason Wessel/SiWoo Lee (NMI), 2 - June Yu/Henry Choi (NMI)
- U16 Girls doubles - 1 - Hannah Chae/Anna Kwon (NMI), 2- Hoo Wang,Irin Chung (NMI)
- U12 Girls team champion: 1 - NMI (Stella Choi/Emma Lang/Selina Chi, 2- Nauru - My-Eita Deireragea/Maura Tannang/Florence Batsiua (finalist)
- U12 boys team: 1 - Guam 1 - Camelo Chen/Edward Calvin/ Daniel Aki Noble, 2 - Team NMI - Daniel Kang/Micheal Jeon/Matt Zhu.
Moana Pasifika climbs to eighth spot
Moana Pasifika celebrate the winning try against the Reds. Photo: Getty Images / Fiona Goodall
Moana Pasifika have joined the Fijian Drua at the top eight of the Super Rugby Pacific competition following their dramatic 17-14 victory over the Reds in Whangarei on Friday evening.
Drua were on bye last weekend and remained at seventh spot.
The Hurricanes continue their unbeaten run and lead at the top.
They are followed by the Blues, Brumbies, Rebels, Chiefs and Reds.
Moana Pasifika claimed their first win in New Zealand this year on Friday night when they upset the Reds.
The Reds ended up with 13 players after halfback Tate McDermott and flanker Fraser McReight were both yellow carded for fouls.
The cards were later upgraded to red, meaning they could not return to the game and watched from the side-line instead.
Moana Pasifika led early on the scoreboard with Julian Savea adding to his try-scoring tally with his 62nd Super Rugby try. They led 10-0 at halftime.
Flyhalf Willaim Havili was the star for the side scoring a converted try in the dying minutes of the game after the Reds had fought back with a try to prop Peni Ravai and winger Jordan Petaia.
Super Rugby results:
- Moana Pasifika 17 Reds 14
- Waratahs 43 Crusaders 40
- Hurricanes 36 Chiefs 23
- Rebels 47 Highlanders 31
Rebels upset Fijian Drua to break drought
The Melbourne Rebels have saved their best performance for last in 2024 with an upset 34-21 win over Fijian Drua women in Canberra on Saturday evening.
Media reports say the Rebels have only won once previously in the six-year history of the competition, back in 2020, but shocked the two-time champion Fijians in their AAMI Park clash on Saturday.
AAP said Drua fullback Atelaite Buna scored her second try in the 70th minute to close the margin to six points and set up a grandstand finish.
But having conceded 88 points in their previous two clashes, Melbourne continued their impressive defensive effort before superstar Ash Marsters bagged her second try to seal an emotional win.
Like their male Super Rugby Pacific counterparts, the women are waiting on a decision from Rugby Australia about the cash-strapped Rebels' future. Reeling under massive debt, the Melbourne club could fold at the end of the season.
Drua women got off to a flying start, scoring in the second minute with a length of the field effort finished off by Buna.
After an early penalty strike by Siataga, Melbourne scored their first try in the 17th minute when they moved the ball wide before a backhand pass from flanker Mel Kawa found winger Chanelle Kohika-Skipper.
That put the home side ahead 10-7 but the Fijians had the final say of the half when prop Vika Matarugu barged over the line just before the break to take the lead 14-10.
Drua women's coach Mosese Rauluni believes his players didn't have the right attitude on the weekend against the Rebels.
The former Flying Fijians captain told the media after the game the side may have been looking forward to the semi-final this week and failed to deliver against the Rebels.
He is hopeful that will change against the Force in their semi-final on Friday.
"We've only won one game in Fiji and that was against Western Force, and you know New South Wales the week before taught us a really big lesson, so we don't wanna be taught that lesson again against Western Force," he told FBC.
The Drua hosts Western Force at 4:35pm on Friday (Fiji Time) at the National Stadium in Suva.
Suva continue to lead in Fiji rugby competition
Suva continue their unbeaten run in the Fiji Rugby Union Skipper Cup competition with their senior team beating rugby powerhouse Nadroga 31-22 on Saturday.
In the women's competition, Ba and Kadavu Women's teams drew 30-all in their Royal Tea Ranadi Cup encounter at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
There were also some tough battles during the Skipper Cup Under 20 series.
The emerging players for each union showcased their tenacity at attack and with some sublime defense that kept their opponents on edge.
Fiji Rugby results:
- Skipper Cup - Senior Men: Suva 31 Nadroga 22, Naitasiri 27 Namosi 26, Yasawa 17 Lautoka 11, Tailevu 22 Nadi 17, Ba 32 Macuata 21
- Under-20s - Nadi 25 Tailevu 24, Nadroga 33 Suva 20, Naitasiri 22 Namosi 20, Lautoka 15 Yasawa 7, Macuata 24 Ba 17
- Women - Senior: Namosi 41 Naitasiri 7, Suva 46 Nadroga 12, Lautoka 31 Yasawa 27, Nadi 66 Tailevu 5
- Under-20s: Namosi 73 Naitasiri 5, Lautoka 89 Yasawa 14, Nasinu 32 Navosa 14, Suva 84 Nadroga 5.
Rewa maintain lead with big win
Rewa keep their lead in the Fiji Football Association Premier League clash in Nausori at the weekend following a big 6-1 win over Nadroga.
FBC Sports says midfielder Iosefo Verevou and Tevita Waranivalu scored a double each.
Labasa has moved to second on the table, following their 1-nil win over Nadi in Labasa.
Navua proved too strong for Suva as they won 5-2 at Fiji FA Academy ground in Suva.
In another match, Ba defeated Lautoka 3-1.
Vanuatu record early wins
Vanuatu's two womens beach volleyball teams continue to record good results at the "Est Cola" AVC Beach Tour Samila Open" in Songkhla, Thailand.
Vanuatu Beach Volleyball says both teams won all their pool games at the event so far.
They also qualified for the Round 16.
Vanuatu beach volleyball is hoping the teams continue their strong performances as they build up for the final Paris Olympics qualifying event in June.
The Team Vanuatu squad of Lin Matauatu, Bella Lawac, Sherysyn Toko, and Loti Joe will head to China in May for 2 FIVB Futures events in Pimgtan on May 9-12 and in Wuhan from May 16-19.
Oceania tennis team suffers losses in China
The Pacific Oceania tennis team suffered straight losses to their opponents at the Billy Jean King Cup tournament in China at the weekend.
The team is made up of Tarani Kamoe, Saorise Breen and Ruby Coffin of Fiji, Samoa's Eleanor Schuster and Tahiti's Mehetia Boosie.
Oceania Tennis media confirmed the team could not match up with their superior opposition which included New Zealand, Korea, Taiwan, India and China.
They finished at the bottom of the points table.
PNG farewells late Lewas captain
Kaia Arua on the right Photo: Supplied/Cricket PNG
Papua New Guinea bade farewell to cricket star and former Lewas cricket team captain Kaia Arua in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The National newspaper said Arua, who led the PNG to claim the Pacific Cup title in Auckland in January, died last week.
She missed the recent tour of Zimbabwe, where the Lewas won their first-ever victory over a fully-fledged International Cricket Council member.
The side defeated Zimbabwe in the second T-20 clash of the three-match series they played against their host.
The 33-year-old mother of two began her career with the Lewas in 2018, playing against Bangladesh in the ICC Women's World Cup Twenty-twenty (T20) qualifier.
She first captained her national team in 2019.
Tupou try-scoring run continues
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jesse Arthars tackle Daniel Tupou during the Sydney Roosters match against the Vodafone Warriors in Sydney. Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz
Mate Ma'a Tomnga winger Daniel Tupou is continuing his try-scoring run for the Sydney Roosters.
NRL media said already the club's record try-scorer, Tupou crossed for two more four-pointers in the Roosters' 22-20 victory over Newcastle last week.
That stretched his club record to 148 tries, with 13 tries from 15 career appearances against the Knights.
But the Roosters are sitting on the ninth spot on the points table as the Sharks jump to the top of the leaderboard with 10 points.
Weekend matches saw the Raiders pip the Titans 21-20 while the Warriors drew with the Manly Sea Eagles.
Full NRL results:
- Raiders 21 Titans 20,
- Dragons 24 West Tigers 12,
- Sharks 34 Rabbitohs 22,
- Eels 27 Cowboys 20,
- Broncos 28 Dolphins 14,
- Warriors 22 Sea Eagles 22,
- Roosters 22 Knights 20.
Send your weekend sports results to iliesa.tora@rnz.co.nz be included in Pasifika Sipoti's weekly update published every Monday.