Brothers retain CRU title

By ROBINSON LEKA
FORMER national sevens star Eugene Tokavai helped Brothers retain the Pacific Industries Capital Rugby Union title with 16-point haul in their 26-14 win over Harlequins in the men’s premier division grand final on Saturday.
The second-five kicked a conversion, three penalties and scored a try in an impressive performance at Bava Park.
Winger Emil Latumahina bagged a brace of tries (one in each half) as the Kramer Ausenco sponsored side led 21-0 at the break and never relinquished it.
Latumahina out-paced the cover to score early on in the right corner as Brothers vaunted backline featuring four former or current sevens representatives and Pukpuks first-five Jonah Kautu sprang to life.
Tokavai missed the conversion but made up for it with a five-pointer that came about after a Kautu bomb was spilled by Harlequins and a flying Brothers fullback Arthur Clement claimed the loose ball before getting a pass off the deck to his No.12 who crashed over the under the uprights.
The Credit Corp-sponsored Harlequins led by veteran No.8 Monty Diave failed to build any pressure with constant ruck and offside infringements taking away all their momentum but they never stopped trying.
Harlequins were better effort in the second half but were kept out by a great scrambling defensive effort from the men in black; despite being outplayed across the park Harlequins scrum monstered Brothers but they could not launch any attacks off that set piece.
Latumahina bagged his second try when a desperate Harlequins tried to attack from deep inside their 22 which saw Brothers winger Clint Kut jolt the ball loose and in the ensuing play see the brethren extend the lead to 26-0 lead.
Diave, second-rower Gabriel Biyama and hooker Freddy Andale shone for Harlequins as they kept on attacking and which resulted in two late tries to Freddy Rova and Elton Uma as Harlies had the last say in the game.
Brothers coach Joe Kautu was happy with his team’s performance as he shared after that it was a victory that they were confident in getting.
“It’s a great feeling, everyone is excited,” he said.
“We knew from the start as soon we scored the first try because I told the boys that the first to score will always determine where we are at the end of the second half,” Kautu said.
In the premier-reserve division, the Harlequins beat Wanderers 12-0 while the Novettes (Nova women) edged out Sisters 10-12 in the women’s final.