The Brumbies Women were unable to get a winning result against Fiji Women yesterday, Monday June 11, the final score 33-7.
The sun beamed over a buzzing ANU North Oval on the Queen’s birthday, a carnival atmosphere welcoming Fiji to Australia for the first time.
The game, played with tremendous spirit and fantastic endeavor, saw the Brumbies Women compete furiously for 80 minutes with the international side.
Indeed, it took the Flying Fijians twenty minutes to break down the Brumbies down.
When they did however, it was spectacular.
Two typically beautiful breakaway tries from the visitors delighted the crowd and left the score at 14-0 at the half-time interval.
After the sides had a breather, Fiji really turned on the style.
Their try five minutes into the second stanza was simply marvelous.
Fiji’s flyhalf, Merewalesi Rokovono – to a spectator, the best player on the park on the day – swept left on the Brumbies 40 metre line.
The first-five then threw what was a pearler of a pass to her streaking teammate, the almost equally impressive, Roela Radiniyavuni who steamed towards the line before popping to centre Litiana Lawendrau who dotted down for the try of the game.
It was a moment which was a snapshot of the quality both sides produced on the day, the level of play showcased serving as a perfect advertisement for the growing women’s game.
The Brumbies women were very much equals in that regard also, giving as good as they got for large parts of the second forty.
With five minutes to play, the Brumbies Women came to life, keen to get a try on the scoreboard to reflect their effort on the day.
Battering the Fiji line for phase after phase, it looked like the Brumbies chances had gone.
However, as the clock hit the 80-minute mark, substitute Ema Masi broke right off the back of the scrum, found halfback Remi Wilton and she was able to sneak over for the Brumbies try, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Not to be outdone, fullback Sammie Wood was able to split the uprights with her conversion attempt leaving a pleasant memory in the minds of the fans and players alike.
After the game, the Fiji Women and the Brumbies shared a prayer and a song, before posing for a big group photo, the camaraderie and ethos of our sport in full effect at ANU North Oval.
The final score, 33-7 in favour of Fiji, the result’s importance less significant than the display by both sides on the day.
