Fiji UK take the Joe Levula Trophy

Fiji UK winners of the Joe Levula Trophy defeating the Rochdale Hornets Under 23`s team

Fiji UK ran out winners of the Joe Levula Trophy defeating the Rochdale Hornets Under 23 team in a full blooded encounter sponsored by Red Tree International.

The Joe Levula Trophy was named after one of the first Fijian to play for Rochdale Hornets way back in 1961.

The Fiji UK side, which is drawn from Fijians and their decedents who live in the UK, came to Rochdale to celebrate the awarding of a fixture in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and the historic links between the Hornets and Fiji.

The giant Fijian outfit took the game to the young Hornets side with charge after charge at the Hornets line and the whirlwind start for the Fijians was rewarded when Jovilisi Qaniuci dived over to open the scoring with Kershaw adding the extras.

A shell shocked Hornets side had hardly any time to catch their breath when another wave of the huge Fijian pack took the ball to the Hornets line. With a name very familiar to Rochdale Hornets fans, the Fijian Meego Ratu capitalised on the forward power to crash over, this time the extras were missed.

Things looked bleak for the young Rochdale side especially as prop forward CJ Moore was led from the field concussed after a heavy collision with the Fijian defence.
The short break in play allowed the Hornets to settle themselves and come back into the game.

Although unable to match the Fijians for size, the Hornets Under 23s could match them for heart and ability and Hornets left wing Andy Taylor crossed the whitewash out wide after some brave approach play.

The try gave the Hornets heart and they swept forward again as Rochdale lad Andy Taylor again touched down out wide. Hornets looked in complete control now as Fraser Jones-Lake again exploited the weak Fijian right side defence.

The Hornets were totally dominating the game now and another local boy Alex West again again found the Fijian right side wanting crossing for the Hornets fourth try.

Hornets now led 16-10 but crucially the Rochdale side failed to add any of the conversion, this was to prove costly at the end of the game.

Hornets luck did change though as they lost Barry Clark just before half time to an elbow injury which severely limited the Rochdale interchange bench.

Into the second half the Hornets extended their lead when they finally broke their kicking duck when Price slotted over an easy penalty.

The Fijians were far from dead and buried though, and after seemingly being pinned in their own quarter a flowing move between Ben Komai Nuamulata and Fereti Rauqe Bau opened up the Hornets defence and Diggle was on hand to dive over to put the Fijians back in the lead.

The lead though was short lived as the discipline of the Fijians slipped again and Price knocked over the penalty to draw level.

The game continued to be played at an intense level with some bone crunching tackles and barn storming runs.

Young Hornets debutant Brandon Mills from Littleborough RL and the Rochdale Cobras was welcomed to the field by Cobras team mate Qaniuci with a shuddering challenge and man mountain Mika Waqa required 4 or 5 defenders to bring him to ground.

The game entered the last few minutes with both teams throwing everything they had to secure the win.

Fittingly it was the Gateshead Thunder prop Tabua Cakacaka, the main driving force behind the Fiji UK organisation, to break the dead lock as he crashed over the line, taking several exhausted Hornets defenders with him.

The Fijians converted the try, with only a minute to go the young Hornets gave it all they had to draw level but it wasn't to be their day.

The referee blew for full time and the Fijians celebrated their historic victory.

Make no mistake, this was no friendly exhibition match. It was more like a cup semi-final with both teams giving their all for the bumper crowd who were rewarded by this blood and thunder clash.

The Apisai Toga Trophy, sponsored by the Rochdale Swarm, for the man of the match went to the Fiji UK player Mika Waqa who plays for the London based Greenwich Admirals Rugby League Club.

Mika was genuinely moved to receive the award named after "Appi" Toga who is regarded the best Fijian player to pull on a Hornets shirt.

Post game both coaches were happy with the efforts their respective side put in and they all took a great deal of positives from the clash.

The sides then retired to the Flying Horse Hotel for the presentation and the Fijians showed their love of life as they partied into the early hours.

With Hornets first team taking the spoils at Oldham and the club having a major presence at the Olympic torch parade it proved to be a good weekend for Hornets and all those involved in Rochdale Rugby League