Nova claim Rookie crown

By SULI SULI
THERE were double celebrations for Nova rugby union as the club concluded the Rookie Sevens on a high, claiming the open men’s and the Under-20 titles yesterday.
The senior team led by veteran Wesley Vali edged tournament frontrunners East New Britain Stallions, 12-0, while Junior Rei scored the match winner for the junior side to beat Chauka Crocs 10-5 in a thriller at Bava Park yesterday.
Senior men’s coach Elipema Kini attributed the victory to the legendry late coach Douglas Guise.
“There’s 12 of us on the field but we always have a 13th man around, as you all know the late Douglas Guise,” Kini said of the late Pukpuks sevens coach and Nova stalwart.
“He’s (Guise) always in the back of our hearts and minds whenever we take the field.
“It’s been six weeks of hard work and the two things that I kept telling the boys was to trust and believe in one and another.
“Controlling what we can and let everything else fall in place. I think that’s what we did to come up with the win. We defended very well and didn’t allow Stallions to score. They were one of the best side in the competition.”
After they fell short against Bougainville’s Black Orchids at the Sports Tok Seven’s mid-year, Nova did everything possible to reach the Rookie finals.
Vali led his Nova compatriots well against a talented and hungry Stallions outfit.
The much anticipated match of the weekend started slowly with both sides struggling to register points on scorecard. Five minutes into the first stanza, Nova reached the try line but the conversion was unsuccessful for Kini’s team to take a 5-0 lead.
Determined defence by Nova denied East New Britons time and time again try scoring opportunities in second half and that filled the Capital Rugby club with confidence and saw them score the sealer in wet conditions and under lights at the home of CRU. Nova earned a cool K20,000 for its winning effort.
Kini commended his young outfit for the victory in both divisions while acknowledging the experienced imparted by former Pukpuk Vali.
“Most of the players are below 25 and oldest was Wesley Vali,” Kini said.
“It was good to have Wesley run with the young guys. He’s experience was also a boost for the boys. In general, Nova did well throughout the tournament in all the divisions for men and women.”