Sade grabs three
Honiara Select defeats Nauru
Three try hero Bobby Sade tries to break free from two Nauru players during their match at the Town Ground rugby stadium yesterday. Honiara select won 51-7…Photo Taromane Martin
HONIARA Rugby Union Association (HRUA) select side has defeated visiting Nauru squad 51-7 in their first international match yesterday.
The visitors had to wait until the 79 minute to break the dead lock, scoring under the posts for an easy conversion.
Henderson Hammer Head Sharks’ Bobby Sade grabbed three tries on the day helping the Honiara select side cruise to a comfortable win.
Sade gave the home side the lead from a penalty conversion after Nauru was penalized by match referee Ryan Bala Wickham for interference in the rack.
Sade went over the line for their first try of the match, Stephen Momoa of Luapel assisting with a brilliant off load in the 10th minute.
Handling errors by the visitors saw the home side nearly grabbing a second try in the 15th minute but were denied by superb defensive recovery by Nauru players.
Nauru was struggling to get out of their own half, Honiara select side pressing them back into their ten meter line.
Good dummy play by Philemon Campbell unleashed Bobby Sade through for his second try giving the home side a 15-0 lead, 29 minutes of play gone.
Raegan Pitabelama went over for the home side just before the break to see them lead 22-0, Sade adding the extra two points from the conversion.
Trailing by twenty-two points Nauru was reduced to 14 men when second half resumed after one of their players was shown the yellow card for a shoulder charge.
The visitor’s defensive nightmare worsened 47 minutes of play, Campbell grabbing his side’s fourth try of the game and a 27-0 lead.
Referee Bala reduced the HRUA select side to 14 men in the 58th minute, sending Watkin Kasoa to the sin bin for entering the ruck from the side.
That however did not stop Sade from breaching the Nauru defense for his third try and extending their lead to 32-0.
Second half substitute Fredson Soaki extended the home sides’ lead to 46-0 in the 64th minute after they were awarded a penalty try in the 67th minute.
Nauru finally broke the dead lock in the 79th minute with a converted try after Darwin grabbed the home sides eight try of the match for a 51-7 win.
Meanwhile HRUA said these international matches are not about winning but about creating ties with the Nauru Rugby Union Federation and develop rugby union in the two countries.
Nauru will take on HRUA 2016 League champions Avaiki 3:30pm this afternoon at the Town Ground rugby stadium.
Entrance fee is $20.Gate opens 1pm.