The Shop & Save Fijian Warriors have defeated the Australian Country side 36-19 at King Charles Park in Nadi.
Featuring a squad packed with rising local talents, the Warriors delivered an exciting display of speed and power, showcasing the strength of the Skipper Cup and Vanua Cup competitions in developing grassroots rugby.
Backline players Napolioni Batimala, Ponipate Tuberi, Emosi Nuku, Apimeleki Nasalo, and Sivaniolo Lumelume were standout performers, combining well to create several attacking opportunities throughout the match.
Warriors Head Coach Cohen Politini who recently guided his Nadi team to the Skipper Cup quarterfinals praised the players from the Vodafone Vanua Cup for stepping up to the challenge.
He highlighted strong performances from Sevuloni Tawake (Navosa), Amani Tukana (Taveuni), and Savenaca Durusolo (Kadavu).
The match was tightly contested in the first half, with the Warriors leading 12-7 at the break.
However, they pulled away in the second half, adding 24 points while the Australian side scored 12 points under the scorching western heat.
In a gesture of community support, all gate proceeds from the match were donated to the Fiji Cancer Society.
