World Footy News

The 2012 AFL Oceania Cup in Fiji got underway with the matches proper on Friday after the warm up afforded via the lightning premiership played on Thursday.

With tropical cyclone Evan having smashed Samoa with minimal notice; at least the island nation of Fiji was able to bunker down - as it turned out, after Sundays rest day the AFL Oceania Cup squads and staff were laid low by the force of nature on Monday with scheduled matches postponed. By Tuesday, with debris cleared - the final round robin matches were completed to pave the way for the play-off matches and grand final.

Please note that all scores have now been updated from official sources - including the lightning carnival matches from Thursday.

Friday Oceania Cup (4 x 10min ¼)

Match	Team A	score	vs	Team B	score
1	Fiji	7.4.(46)	def	Solomons	4.1.(25)
2	Nauru	5.3.(33)	def	Vanuatu	2.6.(18)
3	Tonga	1.4.(10)	lost	Solomons	3.4.(22)
4	Nauru	5.4.(34)	def	Fiji	3.5.(23)

• Good tough football backing up from Friday. Definately some improvement made across the board from day 1. Nauru got the better of Fiji after a tough day 1.

Saturday

Match	Team A	score	vs	Team B	score
5	Vanuatu	4.0.(24)	lost	Fiji	5.5.(35)
6	Nauru	8.9.(57)	def	Tonga	0.0.(00)
7	Solomons	3.3.(21)	lost	Vanuatu	5.4.(34)
8	Fiji	11.9.(75)	vs	Tonga	0.3.(3)

• Another great day of football. Some very tired but tough boys playing. The standard is improving every day!

LADDER WITH 2 GAMES REMAINING:

Team	P	W	L	F	A	P
Nauru	3	3	0	124	41	12
Fiji	4	3	1	179	86	12
Vanuatu	3	1	2	76	89	4
Solomons	3	1	2	68	90	4
Tonga	3	0	3	13	154	0

It has been great to see the standard of football played in the Pacific. Some very hard, Raw, Flashy football with everything from the Destroyer to the Dancer. Very entertaining and good fun! Thank you so far to all the officials on tour and especially the players! Behavior has been terrific both on and off the field so far! 2 more days to go!

Sunday is a rest day.

Monday matches rescheduled to Tuesday

Match	Team A	score	vs	Team B	score
9	Tonga	1.2.(8)	vs	Vanuatu	3.4.(22)
10	Solomons	3.8.(26)	vs	Nauru	1.2.(8)

Tuesday

Match	Team A	score	vs	Team B	score
3rd v 4th	Solomons	5.4.(34)	def	Vanuatu	4.3.(27)

Wednesday

Match	Team A	score	vs	Team B	score
Curtain Raiser	Solomons	5.0.(30)	def	Tonga	4.2.(26)
Grand Final	Fiji	7.5.(47)	vs	Nauru	3.4.(22)

Congratulations to Fiji, winners of the 2012 Oceania Cup.

Awards:

	awarded to
BOG Grand Final:	Messake Vunibaka (Fiji)
Best Player in Carnival:	Pilo Dagiaro (Nauru)
Fiji:	Lepani Moce
Nauru:	Trevin Bernicke
Solomons:	Francis Ramo
Vanuati:	Ryan Bonga
Tonga:	Kisione Tauani & Toutai Havea
Golden Whistle:	Nickolas (Nauru)

At the completion of the Tournament a squad was named to travel to Townsville and compete for the South Pacific Cup. This will be played against PNG and NZ alongside the AFL Indigenous championships in April. The 33 man squad is:
Vanuatu:
• Jesse Kalapong, Ryan Bonga, Mark Naimak, Elli Thomas, Salesuar Sablon, Bala Nabangamiala, Kiki Whitford
Tonga:
• Kisione Tauani, Toutai Havea, Wilhelm Opeti Helu, Felloakitoni Tautua’a, Sione Taufoou
Solomons:
• Francis Ramo, Rosco Mae, Eddie Willie, Brian Alu
Fiji:
• Alipate Generogo, Evia Sailo, Jone Tabaiwalu, Jale Railala, Jonetani Tuivasu, Lepani Moce, Savenaca Brayton, Messake Vunibaka, Rata Mua Cavuilati, Taniela Waqa, Yabaki Cakautini
Nauru:
• Kazzam Baui, Shawn Kemp Maaki, Hess-Takai Foilape, Pilo Dagiaro, Reed Dageago, Jarrod Illig

Congratulations to all 33 boys named in the squad. There will be a training program sent to your in country mangers in preparation for the South Pacific Cup in April.

AFL Asia Pacific would like to thank all players and officials from each country involved in this years tournament. The standard of football has been terrific. A big thank you to AFL FIJI, The Wolfgrams and the many families involved and especially the mothers for their excellent catering for the boys each day during the tournament.

We got through Evan and only lost one day. All our hearts go out to the many Fijians on West Viti Levu and the North West Yasawa Islands who have been devastated by Cyclone Evan. Also to the many who are still affected in Samoa.

We now look forward to the South Pacific Cup in April wish all the players, staff, officials, supporters and families a Happy Christmas.

Captains and action from cup matches :

ed.:-Comments above courtesy of Ben Drew (AFL Development Officer - Pacific).