Saipan beats Navy team twice

The Saipan Rugby Football club played two “friendly” matches with the team from the Navy Ship USS Chancellorsville Saturday morning and won both games, 21-7 and 5-0. In match 1, Faanunu Ngunguutau scored two tries as the Saipan side ran over the Navy defense during the first half.

The Navy side got stronger as the match went forward (and as their hangovers wore off) and held the Saipan team to one try during the second half when Saipan scrum half Willy Setefano grabbed the ball from the scrum and went weak side, streaking past the Navy defenders for a score in the right side of the try zone. Semisi Beduvua converted a very difficult kick making the score 21-0.

The first match continued with some hard hitting on both sides by Faaea Talalamotu for Saipan, Par, Skeet and Darrel for the Navy. Saipan almost scored again, but Dale Roberts of the Navy (on loan from Saipan for the day) slapped the ball out of Leva Jr.’s hands in the zone before Leva could touch down.

Some strong running and passing by Saipan newcomers John and Jack made for great entertainment, but no points. The game ended with Faanunu hot-dogging it down the middle of the pitch and getting tossed to the ground by Leslie the Navy hooker and Dave Banes (another loaner from Saipan).

The ball popped loose, Greg Koebel of the Navy (also seconded for the day from Saipan) scooped it up and ran in for a try as time expired. Darrel converted the try making the final 21-7.

Match 2 was much closer as the younger, fitter Navy side showed Saipan why sometimes, endurance is more important than skill. Saipan found it tough to get any offense on track as Navy pursued the ball relentlessly around the pitch.

Finally, Faanunu again found his way past Par, the Navy lock on the outside and went in for a score. But he badly missed the conversion attempt from under the post, and the score stayed at 5-0. Just before half-time, the Navy’s winger Rudy got loose on the outside but was chased down by Faanunu and Semisi who tackled him just before the try zone.

Banes and Roberts were following in support for the Navy, but Rudy couldn’t pass the ball and the Navy’s only real scoring threat was squelched. The second half was scoreless, and when both Skeet and Pringles McGill from the Navy team were both knocked senseless by Soni Pomee and Eka Veamahatau, Saipan’s hardest tacklers, the game was called. Out came the coolers of beer and the real competition ensued.

Navy’s captain Skeet presented the Saipan boys with a souvenir rugby ball signed by all the Navy players and both teams retired to the beach for a relaxing afternoon of gassing in the sun. By the last recorded running score, Navy led Saipan in coldies consumed 212-197.

The Saipan Rugby Football Club thanks its sponsor, CGU Insurance, for its continued and unwavering support, without which there would be no rugby played in the Commonwealth. The Club also announces that there will be a tournament here in Saipan sponsored by CGU Insurance. The event (Second Annual CGU/CNMI Cup Tournament) is scheduled to take place in November, 2001.