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Nick Jordan, Suva

Match 9 - Suva 14 PNG 12
Suva continued their winning ways with a scrappy victory over PNG on a hot, sunny afternoon at the National Stadium.

Patrick Osbourne strode out early for a try and it looked like the home side would continue their domination they displayed yesterday.

However, PNG coach Waisale Serevi donned the boots at the age of xx to cover an injury, delighting his ‘home’ crowd and nearly inspired his charges to victory.

A storming run from captain Alex Haija set up a try to David Eri which Serevi converted and Kojo Ware finished a tap move in the corner for PNG to trail 12-14 at the break.

A tight second half saw end-to-end action but no scoring and Suva hung on to progress to the quarter finals.

Match 10 - Army 26 Western Force 7
Army won their first game of the tournament with a 26-7 win over Western Force in a scrappy match.

Both sides were guilty of handling errors and only two tries eventuated in the first half, to Dion Berryman and Ilai Tinai, with the score at the break being locked at 7-7.

Former Fiji Sevens player Dale Tonawai put the Army in front early in the second spell and tries to Napolioni Naulia and Ilai Tinai, his second, sealed the victory.

The Force’s final chance to demonstrate to their hosts they were worthy of the invitation is against the USA.

Match 11 - Canada Maple Leafs 10 Ratu Filise 7
Canada bounced back from their opening day loss to beat Ratu Filise, the giant killers from Day One, in a tight struggle.

Filise were unable to repeat their win over Samoa on the opening day despite scoring first through Eparama Rokoyaya.

Rokoyaya was then warned for a late charge allowing Canada to swing onto attack and Chris Pack finished off the excellent work of Philip Mack to cross the chalk and close the gap to 5-7 at half time.

Playmaker Mack opened the second half with a blindside break to put them in front, but they couldn’t convert an overwhelming territorial advantage into points and finished with their noses just in front.

Mack said yesterday was a wake up call.

“We came in blind to the calibre of the tournament and had a tough loss yesterday. We’re pleased to respond in a positive way.

“We’ve had a few days running around in the heat so we’re getting used to it.”

Match 12 - Northern Sharks 34 Tonga 12
After a heavy loss to Fiji yesterday the Northern Sharks showed their potential with a comeback win over Tonga to eliminate the latter.

Siaosi Iongi scored two early tries for Tonga before the team from Vanua Levu (Fiji’s largest northern island) ran in six unanswered tries, including the best of the day – a team effort that saw the ball sweep through the hands to Atama Bose who finished with a chip kick, regather and dive.

Tonga’s loss sent them to the Bowl competition and back to the drawing board for their upcoming trip to Wellington for the IRB Sevens.

Match 13 - Wardens 12 Manawatu 7
A lively start from Manawatu was encouraging for the New Zealanders, though it took until late in the half to capitalise, when Matt Hodson and Karl Bryson combined beautifully to send Bertus Mulder under the posts.

Leading 7-0 at half time, Manawatu survived a scare when the Wardens lost the ball over the line only for a handling error to gift Mitieli Tokalau a try and conversion to level the scores.

Noa Nawaqarua won a kick and chase to the corner to give the Wardens a 12-7 lead which is how the match finished, setting up a showdown with Suva for the honours in Pool C.

Match 14 - Police 17 USA Cougars 7
The eagerly-awaited clash at the top of Pool B lived up to its billing with the Police coming from behind to record a significant victory.

The USA dominated early although handling errors cost them once on attack. However, Ata Malifa, one of the two brothers in the halves for the Cougars, doubled around for the opening try and a 7-0 lead.

Ovini Burekalou struck back immediately for the Police to give a 7-7 half time score.

A great solo try from Naiasa Moala put the Police up 14-7 halfway through the second term and Moala, a lively winger, sealed the victory with his second as the USA struggled in the 32 degree heat.

Match 15 - Samoan Barbarians 19 Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians 10
Second seed Samoa put their opening day loss behind them although they struggled at times to overcome the Malaysian-based Fijians.

Michael Nabuliwaqa raced in early for Veiyasana, and their good defence twice denied the Samoans. A break from Nabuliwaqa was finished by captain Benedito Koroi to extend the lead.

Surprisingly, neither was converted, so when Alatasi Tupou scored Samoa’s first the boys in blue remained in the hunt at 7-10 at the break.

But mistakes from Samoa kept them in their own half and it wasn’t until Ofisa Treviranus broke out that Apelu Fa’aiuga went over in the corner to take a 12-10 lead.

Treviranus also had a hand in the match winner scored by Falemiga Selesele, converted by Uale Mai who had flown in late from New Zealand to join his teammates, meaning the Samoans stayed alive in the tightest of the four pools.

Match 16 - Waimanu 12 Fiji Barbarians 0
A stunning win by club team Waimanu over the national side left Fijian coach Ilisea Tanivula with plenty to think about heading into the play offs.

Saula Colaiwau went over the line after sustained Waimanu pressure, which continued throughout the first spell ensuring the national side was unable to get on the scoresheet.

A dreadful knock on at the start of the second period gave Waimanu the territorial advantage and a yellow card to Watisoni Votu further frayed the nerves of the Fijian management.

After further mistakes the Waimanu vice captain Joe Nakaira went under the posts and the crowd sensed a major upset, which eventuated under the Suva sun, sending Waimanu to the top of Pool A.

Match 17 - Wardens 24 Suva 0
Wardens easily accounted for Suva in the clash of the two unbeaten teams in Pool C.

Lisari Qalica scored the only try of the first half for the Wardens and veteran Sailosi Naitege, with several years of IRB experience, extended the lead to 12-0 and minutes later charged up the far touchline for his second try.

Uliano Vueti completed the shut out following a set move, and even the arrival of Patrick Osbourne for Suva made no impact.

The Wardens play the USA in the quarter finals with the host club taking on the Police.

Match 18 - Army 12 Police 12
The two armed forces, who play annually for the prestigious Sukuna Bowl, squared off in another mouth-watering Pool B fixture.

The Police, winners of the Labasa 7s qualifier, looked the strongest early and a great break by speedster Naiasa Moala set up a try to Manueli Nagai.

Captain Jasa Kadivuka scored from a lineout on the stroke of halftime to give the Police a 12-0 lead.

Ilai Tinai starred for the Army with two tries, as in the previous match, to tie the match and ensure a tense final few minutes.

Police botched a try with a dropped ball and the siren went leaving the first draw of the tournament and an anxious wait for the Army, whose prospects are now in the hands of the USA. The Police qualify to play Suva tomorrow.

Match 19 - Ratu Filise 19 Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians 14
Both teams had qualified for the Festival as runners up (Filise at Suva, Veiyasana at Labasa) and turned on another close encounter.

Veiyasana playmaker Michael Nabuliwaqa completed his full house (try in every match) with the opening score, but Josoteki Ravueta replied immediately to level the scores, and added a second soon after.

Jone Macili extended the lead to 19-7 at halftime and Filise absorbed the early pressure at the start of the second spell until that man Nabuliwaqa received a lovely pass over the shoulder to score his second.

At 14-19 Veiyasana had their opportunities but Ratu Filise held on for the victory and a place in the quarter finals against Fiji.

Match 20 - Waimanu 21 Northern Sharks 7
In a penalty-ridden first half Waimanu, winners over the national side earlier in the day, came close to scoring two tries before Peni Sagata finally broke the spell and crossed for the opener.

The lead didn’t last long, however, as Atama Bose chased a loose ball to score the equaliser as the siren sounded.

A 7-7 halftime deadlock was broken when the Sharks’ Lorima Napolioni was sin-binned and David Batiratu exploited the extra man advantage to go under the posts.

And Batiratu’s second try at the death confirmed Waimanu’s position at the top of Pool A and a quarter final against Canada.

Match 21 - PNG 26 Manawatu 21
Waisale Serevi kicked off for PNG but Manawatu’s Bertus Mulder, a Natal export, lumbered in for the first try for the New Zealanders.

PNG’s Albert Levi raised the roof with a runaway try and, from the kick off, Serevi set up David Eri for their second.

However, Levi missed a tackle on another Manawatu import, Fijian Lasa Ulukutu, and his converted try saw Manawatu lead 14-12 at the break.

Mike Rowe extended the lead with a try but Levi again accelerated away to bag his second and bring the Menjals back to 19-21.

And Manawatu infringements gave Sova Milfred the opportunity to barge over for the winner, Serevi’s conversion topping a popular win.

Match 22 - USA Cougars 14 Western Force 12
Western Force, Australia’s representative at the tournament, put up their best performance against the shadow USA squad, only to be pipped at the post by a determined Cougar outfit.

USA’s Ata Malifa set up the opening score to captain Mat Hawkins but Filipe Manu, trying to work his way back into the Super 15 squad, levelled the scores three minutes later.

Dion Berryman showed great skill to beat three USA players on his way to a fantastic solo try, only to be called back for a flag up from the assistant referee.

But Force captain Koiatu Koiatu ensured the 7-7 halftime score didn’t remain long with an angled run for the corner and a narrow 12-7 lead.

However, in a long energy-sapping final play, Mile Pulu levelled the scores from a penalty close to the Force line and Ata Malifa became the toast of the USA squad with a conversion to steal the game.

Hawkins acknowledged there was nothing in the contest:

“It was close, it was hot and it was very tiring. We’re very lucky to come out on top in that one!

“The standard is very high and the sun has taken its toll, but tomorrow will be a great contest and we’re looking forward to it.”

The captain praised the contribution of his two NFL converts.

“Leonard Peters and Bennie Brezell are picking up the game, learning the fundamentals and actually coming along in leaps and bounds. They are athletes and once they’ve got it they will be great assets.”

Match 23 - Canada Maple Leafs 12 Samoa Barbarians 10
Both teams headed into the match with a win and a loss and another nail-biter ensued.

Ofisa Treviranus, the scorer of 46 tries on the IRB circuit, opened the scoring for Samoa and Canada’s Chris Pack replied long after the siren. Phil Mack’s conversion gave Canada a well deserved 7-5 lead at halftime.

Treviranus ran in his second from long-range to give Samoa a 10-7 lead but Mack, one of the players of the tournament to date, burrowed his way over for Canada to go to 12-10.

As the flood lights took effect Canada only had to retain possession and they successfully did so, relegating the Samoans to the Bowl and providing encouraging signs for their first appearance on the 2009-10 IRB circuit.

Match 24 - Fiji Barbarians 36 Tonga 0
A much-improved Fiji performance saw them book their place in the Cup round for Saturday.

Lanky Pio Tuwai stretched over for the first try and Police flyer Waisale Beci did his selection chances no harm with a dash to the line just prior to half time.

From the kick off Tuwai set up Watisoni Votu for Fiji’s third try, and give the hosts a comfortable 17-0 lead at the break.

Tuwai gave the last pass to captain Emosi Vucago for Fiji’s fourth try and Josefa Bole, another looking to impress Tanivula before Wellington, showed extreme pace to take the score to 29-0.

William Ryder closed out the match with a try under the posts and the crowd filed out of the National Stadium satisfied that their boys were back in business, at least until the quarter finals tomorrow.