Saipan Ruggers reach final four in Manila

Saipan Rugby team recently competed in the Manila Tens Rugby Tournament the Philippines. This is an annual trip for the Saipan Ruggers, who have competed in the last four Manila tournaments.

Saipan’s main sponsor, GSU Insurance displayed tremendous hospitality and inspiration for the boys throughout the tournament.

Game one on Saturday saw Saipan face against a tough team from Thailand which proved to be a heavy-impact defensive game with only one late score. Brutal tackling by Bruce Berline, Greg “Meat” Koebel and Dave “Stone hands” Banes and the other forwards eventually wore the Thais down.

In the waning seconds of the game, one last sledge-hammer like tackle by Eka Veamatalau popped the ball loose. Team Captain Semisi Betuvua scooped up the ball with one hand. While fending off three Thai players, Semisi flipped a brilliant, one handed, behind the back pass straight to Faanunu who caught it in stride and at full speed to scamper straight down the pitch. Faanunu scored as time ran out giving Saipan the victory at 5-0.

Game two brought a team from Hong Kong (Kowloon) in what amounted to another grinding smash-mouth struggle. Kowloon scored first and led at half-time 5-0. Taking the initiative with a strong running score, scrum half Faatuuala Tino ran almost 50 yards before passing to Semi Ratuleve for a score.

Continued blasting tackles be Berlin led to a large cut over his right eye, putting him out for the remainder of the tournament. While a player down, Saipan scored the deciding try, a long made again by Faanunu and again in the final minute making the final score 10-5.

Game three was against Malaysia. After two tough defensive games, Saipan was finally able to cut loose and have their way. Brilliant running by Samsoni Pomee and Willie Setefano led to both scoring on well-passed balls by Malaka Bito and Ulaiasi Waradi and Semi. Tino continued to emerge as a leader on the field as he scored as well with the final score 15-0.

Day two of the tournament is the Cup, Plate and Bowl knockout rounds. Because of a 3-0 record on Saturday, Saipan was guaranteed a spot in the prestigious championship Cup bracket. Teams with losses on the first day were relegated to the Plate and Bowl competitions.

In their first game, the Cup quarter-finals, Saipan played an old foe, the Taipei Baboons from Taiwan. A quick second minute score by Saipan’s Tino immediately put Taipei on their heels.

Despite a noticeable lack of his usual aberrant coif du jour, Meat Koebel rose to the occasion by consistently winning the ball for Saipan in the line out and scoring another try just before halftime which made the score a comfortable 12-0.

Saipan began the second half in a defensive mode, hoping to insure victory. Stone-hand Banes displayed some nifty passing technique throughout the game, furthering his bid to join the back line in future tournaments.

Making another key contribution, Dale “Hitman” Roberts sealed the victory in the closing minute by tackling the Taiwanese back on the goalline and thus sending Saipan through to the semi-finals.

Next was the Cup semifinals, a Rugby tournament’s version of the “Final Four”. Saipan was up against a team that most felt would win the competition, the Bahrain Warbblers.

The Warbblers are a semi-professional company-sponsored team chock full of experienced former professional players from Australia and New Zealand. The tone was set quickly by the Warbblers as they took advantage of a high tackle penalty, kicking for touch on the Saipan five yard line. The taller, more-experienced Bahrain forwards bulled over Hitman Roberts for the quick score.

Down 5-0, Saipan was again caught off-guard by a superb kick-off which Bahrain recovered near Saipan’s goal-line. Back on their heels, Saipan’s defense led by Tino, Eka, Banes and Koebel at first held the larger Warbblers before succumbing to their bull-force mauling which drove over for a score.

Ahead 10-0 at the half, Bahrain played the second half very conservatively, kicking for touch often and slowing the tempo of the game. Last minute heroics by Bitu, Wardi and Semi fell short and Saipan was shut out, missing the Final. Michael Gourly was selected as Saipan’s Most Valuable Player.

The final saw Scotland, the team Saipan beat last year to capture the Plate final, bating the Bahrain Warbblers.

Saipan will next take the field against the U.S. Navy on April 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the Airport field. Anyone interested in playing is encouraged to show up for practice at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at American Memorial Park or call David Banes or Greg Koebel at 234-5684.