The ‘Fiji Me’ Australian Fijians were left scratching their heads in the final of the Cabramatta World Nines when they were defeated by the NSW Premier League side the Balmain Tigers 14-12 in the final. After a day of oppressive heat the final was played between the two best teams on the day with the three-time winning Tigers kicking a penalty goal after the fulltime hooter was blown.
In what was a thrilling final that was set to go to extra time fellow Australian Fijian Ratu Tagive was hit high by Joe Delana as the AFRL senior team tried to defend the last play of the game to force the match in to extra time. Delana was sent from the field and the Tigers awarded a penalty in which the referee gave the Tigers the option of going for a penalty goal to win the match.
The Tigers converted and the title went to Balmain again for another year. Head Coach Daryll Neville was left confused by the decision to allow a penalty goal of the ground when all goals over the day were taken via drop goal.
“To be honest I don’t know who was right or wrong with being allowed a goal off the ground when there hasn’t been a penalty goal taken all day let alone one taken off the ground. I’ll have to check it out but it seemed even the players were confused and it all seemed like a real anti-climax at the end.” said Neville.
“I just can’t have anything but praise for our boys for their effort and the one consolation in losing in such fashion is that all the prize money went to a good cause this year for people hurting a lot more than what we are at the moment.”
The ‘Fiji Me’ Australian Fijians would like to thank Tas Baiteri and Cabramatta Leagues for staging a great day all in the aid of the Queensland floods.
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