Wellington Samoan team in action throughout September

The Wellington Samoan Men’s team has three matches coming up in September, against the Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu Development sides.

The Wellington Samoan Senior Men's Team for the 2015 Representative Season is:

Daley Ena (Northern United)
Jacob Taituave (Marist St Pat’s) 
Nuu Lene (Oriental-Rongotai)
Steve Fa’atau (Oriental-Rongotai)
Ezekiel Sopoaga (Old Boys University) 
Eli Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams)
Josh To’omaga (Marist St Pat’s)
Milo Vaa (Petone) 
Galu Fasavalu Taufale (Poneke)
James Tuiatua (Marist St Pat’s)
Greg Lealofi (Wainuiomata) 
Josh Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams)
Lucky Tuiatua (Oriental-Rongotai)
Danny Tusitala (Old Boys University)
Kentino Kapeli (Marist St. Pat’s)
Nua Fono Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams) 
Ryan Quentin Setefano (Marist St Pat’s) 
Ben Tuiatua (Oriental-Rongotai)
Konelio Feaunati (Northern United)
Teru Time (Wainuiomata) 
Joyner Key  (Upper Hutt Rams)
Jeff Makapelu ( Johnsonville) 
Faresa Tasele (Poneke)
Lawrence Lotovale (Marist St Pat’s)

Wellington Samoan Rugby Union (WSRU) players that have also been selected in the Wellington Development squad include Fa’atonu Fili, Valentine Meachen and Isaia Petelo (all Marist St Pat’s), Le'a Afando Fa'atau (Oriental-Rongotai) and Belgium Tuatagaloa (Petone).

Head Coach: Alex Taimalietane 
Assistant Coaches: Stradford Adams and Stuart Holden
Manager: Pati Gagau

The schedule of games is:

• 12 September v Wellington Development at Porirua Park (TBC)

• 19 September v Hawke’s Bay Saracens at Napier

• 26 September v Manawatu Development at Porirua Park (TBC)

Festival Series:

The Wellington Samoan team is coming off a second placed finish in the second annual Festival Series, also involving the Wellington Maori, Suburbs and City sides.

Wellington Samoan and Wellington Maori met last weekend at Porirua Park in a virtual final to decide this year’s Festival Series winner, with the Wellington Maori team winning the match 32-31 courtesy of a last-gasp controversial penalty.

The Samoans told Club Rugby that they were left questioning the accuracy of the winning kick, as well as an earlier try was also awarded to the Wellington Maori side after the try scorer had possibly put a foot in touch.

Nevertheless, the Samoans revealed that it was their own errors that ultimately cost them victory, with poor execution and passes not sticking throughout the match.

Wellington Maori skipped out to a 19-0 lead after half an hour before the Samoans had fired a shot. Josh Too’maga got them on the board with their first try but the Maori crossed again to take a 24-7 lead into halftime.

Left wing Afa Fa’atau fielded the second half kick-off and with pace and strength hared past and through several defenders down the left flank to score. He showed his qualities to score again after Joyner Key joined in the line from the right wing. 

Making the most of an intercept led to the fourth try for the Samoans, who with the conversion, led for the first time in the match in the 57th minute, 28-24. 

The Maori replied with a try off a lineout drive to make it 29-28, before Samoans flyhalf Fa’atonu Fii landed a long-range penalty to put his side back in front at 31-29.

Maori wing Tiwi Davies lined up a penalty from the 22 – but missed.

The Samoans failed to close out the clock. The Maori side patiently and calmly made their way back into their opponents 22 where, with seconds to go, they were awarded the winning penalty and Davies obliged on fulltime.