Eastern Saints beat Navy White in extra time to win Digicel Koroturaga Cup

The Eastern Saints, coached by former Flying Fijian Seremaia Bai has won the Digicel Koroturaga Cup after beating Navy White 20-17 in extra time at Albert Park this afternoon.

This is the Eastern Saints first season in the competition.

They now advance to the Escott Shield competition next season.

The Koroturaga Cup is the Suva Rugby Union's second-tier rugby competition

MATCH REPORT

Kick-off at Albert Park - The Koroturaga Cup final between Eastern Saints and Navy White is underway.

Eastern Saints is coached by former Flying Fijians fly-half Seremaia Bai and this is their first season in the Koroturaga Cup.

FIRST HALF

TRY - Blindside flanker Usaia Tupou of Eastern Saints crosses over for their first try. Inside centre 23-year-old Sakiusa Delailoa made a powerful break in the midfield, created space and offloaded to Tupou to score the game's opening try. Conversion from Delailoa is good. Eastern Saints lead 7-nil at Albert Park.

2ND TRY FOR SAINTS - 19-year-old Blindside flanker Usaia Tupou of Eastern Saints is playing well today. He crosses over for his second try. Inside centre Sakiusa Delailoa misses the conversion. The Eastern Saints extend their lead to 12-nil.

3RD TRY FOR SAINTS - It's the 28th minute. Navy White had the ball near their 22-metre line. Eastern Saints turned the ball over. There was some quick passing after the turnover and the ball reached outside centre Serupepeli Waqalevu who outpaced the rest of the field to score the Eastern Saints third try. Inside centre Sakiusa Delailoa misses the conversion again. The Eastern Saints extend their lead to 17-nil.

RED CARD - 36th minute. A huge and critical moment in this match. Eastern Saints who have dominated this game so far will now play the rest of the match with 14 players. Lock Angelo Smith is sent out with a red card for dangerous play. The player which Smith dangerously tackled is now undergoing a concussion test. The Eastern Saints still lead 17-nil.

FIRST TRY FOR NAVY - 39th minute. Good build-up play and ball retention by Navy White. Closing in on the try line with a powerful drive by the forwards. Navy White hooker Viliame Baravi crosses over for their first try. Winger Samuela Bainivalu missed the conversion. The Eastern Saints still lead 17-5 here at Albert Park.

HALF TIME - The Eastern Saints lead Navy White 17-5 here at Albert Park. The big question is whether Eastern Saints can maintain and build on their lead with only 14 men in the second half.

SECOND HALF

YELLOW CARD - 48th minute. A Navy White player is sent out for 10 minutes for a high tackle. Now both teams have 14 players. The referee is now calling for calm from both teams after some pushing and shoving ensued following that high tackle.

TRY FOR NAVY WHITE - 57th minute. Navy White opt for a scrum after being given a penalty near the try line. Scrum is good. Navy White completes those passes and it reaches winger Samuela Bainivalu who runs for the corner and offloads to fullback Maikeli Cakacaka who scores. The conversion is missed by Bainivalu. The Eastern Saints still lead Navy White 17-1O.

ANOTHER RED CARD - 67th minute. No 22 Tukana Biudole who just returned from a 10-minute break for a yellow card is sent out again for another dangerous tackle. This time, Biudole is not coming back - he gets a RED CARD. Both teams have a red card each. The Eastern Saints still lead Navy White 17-1O.

THIRD RED CARD - 70th minute. Navy White fullback Maikeli Cakacaka gets a RED CARD. Eastern Saints now have the opportunity to seal the lead with another try. Eastern Saints have 14 players on the field compared to 13 for Navy White. The Eastern Saints still lead Navy White 17-1O.

TRY FOR NAVY WHITE - Impressive build-up play by Navy White considering they only have 13 players on the field. They take advantage of the weaknesses in Eastern Saints scrum, push through with their big forwards and No 8 Benedito Koroi crosses over for the try. The conversion is good. Both teams locked 17-all and the game goes to a sudden death situation in extra time.

EXTRA TIME

MISSED DROP GOAL - This is an intense final here at Albert Park. The Navy White forwards continue to work hard. Navy White setting up for the drop goal but winger Samuela Bainivalu misses. The two teams still can't break the deadlock. 5 minutes into extra time now.

GOOD BREAK - The Eastern Saints work their attack well and break through the defence. They stretch the Navy White defence near the 22-metre line. Waisale Vesikula breaks the defensive line and crosses over but loses the ball due to a high tackle. The referee awards a penalty to Eastern Saints for that high tackle. Eastern Saints inside centre Sakiusa Delailoa take the penalty kick and it goes over. That's it, the Eastern Saints have done it. They win the 2020 Digicel Koroturaga Cup competition defeating Navy White 20-17 in extra time at Albert Park.

FINAL SCORE - The Eastern Saints win the 2020 Digicel Koroturaga Cup competition defeating Navy White 20-17 in extra time at Albert Park.