Samoa Rugby results 1924:
In
1924 the Fiji team toured Tonga. On the way there and on the way
back, they played a test against Samoa in Apia.
The Fijians won the first test and Samoa won the second test.
The first game has often been mentioned, almost as part of rugby
folklore due to the mention of a tree in the middle of the ground.
The second test resulted in a try by Taualai, which must be the
first try scored by Samoa in a test!
Below are reports and researched articles, with thanks to Jeremy
Duxbury and Teivovo of Fiji, and the FRU.
Fiji
victors by six nil
Race
Course Ground, Apia. Monday, 18 August, 1924
Western
Samoa 0 Fiji 6
By A.S. Farebrother
–
Fiji Times and Herald
The
SS Tofua reached Apia from Suva on Sunday, 16th August
and the Fiji representatives went ashore to gain their sea legs
and walked as far as the racecourse, where the match was to be
played the following morning, returning to the ship at 5.45pm
and retired at about 8.30 as the match was to played at 7am.
The Apia Rugby Association welcomed the team aboard the Tofua
and arranged for boats from the ship to the shore and cars from
the landing to the racecourse and return, which were greatly appreciated
by the party.
Few teams have shown such a reversal to form as
Fiji did yesterday, as compared with their form on Albert Park
a week ago. From the outset Fiji rushed the ball to their opponents
25, and play hovered there for some time, until by some good play
by Apia forwards were far too heavy for the Fiji men with the
result that Apia forwards hooked the ball on practically every
occasion, but by the smartness of the opposition, the efforts
of Moors (scrum half) were foiled.
Owing to the state of the ground the ball became
very greasy and both teams found it difficult to hold the ball.
The Fiji three-quarters started some good rushes, but on every
occasion could not retain possession of the ball, so instructions
were given to keep the ball at the toe. From a dribbling rush,
Devo picked up smartly and scored 10 yards from the corner. Esava
failed at goal. Fiji 3, Samoa 0.
From the kick-off some excellent line kicking
took place on both sides, I Railey (Apia), being particularly
effective. At this stage the Fiji three-quarters were too far
apart and Edward intercepted and raced for the line, but the full
back made no mistake at the same time one or two others had caught
up secured the ball and kicked out.
Soon after, the half-time whistle sounded with
Fiji leading 3 to nil. Resuming some fast hard clean play eventuated
and the play was mainly in the Apia 25 until a fine kick drove
Fiji back to their own line and the ball raced up and down the
field amid intense excitement. Several free kicks for off side
play by several of the Fiji men helped the Apia men somewhat.
From a mark the ball was printed and followed on fast Savenaca
secured, dodged one or two and scored. Samisoni with a fine kick
hit the cross-bar, making the score 6 to nil.
Samoa kicked off and some very clever play was
witnessed by both sides and the spectators, who numbered between
500 and 600, barracked hard for the local team and in a flash
the ball was in the Fiji corner, but a forced relieved and the
ball remained until the final whistle.
The speed of the Fiji men seemed to be the main
reason for the success attained, but the big sturdy men of Apia
will have to be reckoned with when the return match is played
in about a month’s time. Different tactics will have to
be used, but I anticipate another win after many matches that
are to played in Tonga.
Practically
every man played well and there were no loafers on either side;
each player was out to win. The general opinion on all sides was
that the game was the cleanest and finest exhibition of football
played in Samoa.
The
team sailed again at 6 pm enroute to Nukualofa a very happy lot
and all well, and they are looking forward confidently to the
matches in Tonga. The improvement in form was not expected. Apia
are very interested in the doings of the Fiji team and have asked
for the results of the test matches to be sent to them by radio.
Conference will be held shortly for an inter-islands team to be
sent to NZ next yer. The team will be selected from Fiji, Samoa,
and Tonga should the conference approve.
Samoa: T Allen, Quapati,
Toni, Manu, Funu, Semisi, Ata, Atiga, H Moors, Moli, I Riley,
Pio, Edward, A Meredith, A MacDonald.
Fiji:
Esava K, Vosa U, W Devo, Tubu L, Atu L, Kukuka B, Levani M, Feretti
N, Levani T, Samisoni K, Sikeli T, Sakiusa K, Savenaca T, A Amaraki,
Sairusi N.
Tries:
W Devo, Savenaca T
Referee:
H L Halliday.
Fiji
beat Western Samoa in first Test
- The Samoa Times, August 22, 1924
Samoa's first international against Fiji kicked off at 7am. The
early call was so the Fijian team could leave for Tonga, their
main destination, at 4pm on the steamer MV Tofua, and so that
thier opponents could go to work after the game.
Quite a big crowd assembled at the race course
and the football authorities were pleased indeed to see so many
spectators at such an early hour.
The Samoan team, headed by Harry W Moors, promptly
took to the field at 7am closely followed by the Fijians who were
in all black, the Samoans being in the all white uniform.
Soon after kick-off, it was apparent that the
men from Fiji knew something about the game, and the splendid
combined work of their forwards made the Samoan backs realise
that they had their cut to win.
The local boys were kept on the defensive most
of the game, the black forwards keeping the pressure right from
the word 'go', and the backs, once they had settled down, handled
the slippery ball in good style, kicking to touch with fine judgement,
although using barefeet to do it.
The first score was in the first half, and it
came from a strong forward attack from the blacks. The second
three points came towards the end of the game, when a big Fijian
snapped the ball up in the loose and dived for the line, getting
over with three opponents hanging on to him.
Mr
Halliday made an efficient referee. The game was played in splendid
spirit. It was hard at times, but there was no suggestion of rough
and dirty play
Fiji’s first Test side – they went to Samoa and
Tonga in 1924 and won eight of their 11 matches. Note the black
shirts and lack of boots.
7am
kick-off, a tree on halfway?
Fiji played their first Test match on 18 August,
1924, against Western Samoa, winning 6-0. While the game kicked
off at 7am with a small tree on the halfway line and Fiji played
in an all-black uniform, some things evidently do not change –
Fiji were praised for their speed and agility, Samoa were described
as “the big, sturdy men of Apia.”
The match kicked off at 7am
•
A small tree stood on halfway
•
Fiji played in all black
•
Both teams were barefoot
•
Viliame Devo scored Fiji’s first-ever Test try
•
Among the 15 Fijians making their Test debuts was Atunaisa Laqeretabua,
who enjoyed a distinguished career spanning 15 years, his last
match being against the Maoris in 1938.
The match served as a warm-up Test for Fiji, who were headed for
Tonga for a nine-match tour, their first overseas. The SS Tofua
reached Apia from Suva on Sunday, and the Fiji representatives
went ashore to gain their sea legs and walked as far as the racecourse,
where the match was to be played the following morning, returning
to the ship at 5.45pm and retired at about 8.30 as the match was
to played at 7am. The early call was so the Fijian team could
leave for Tonga, their main destination, at 6pm on the steamer,
and so that their opponents could go to work after the game.
The Samoan team, headed by Harry W Moors, promptly
took to the field at 7am closely followed by the Fijians who were
in all black, the Samoans being in the all white uniform.
Few teams have shown such a reversal to form as
Fiji did compared with their form on Albert Park a week earlier.
Quite a big crowd assembled at the racecourse and the football
authorities were pleased indeed to see so many spectators at such
an early hour.
Soon after kick-off, it was apparent that the
men from Fiji knew something about the game, and the splendid
combined work of their forwards made the Samoan backs realise
they would have their work cut out.
From the outset, Fiji rushed the ball to their
opponents’ 25, and play hovered there for sometime, until
some good play by Apia reversed to the Fiji goal line, where a
score nearly resulted. The big forwards were too heavy for the
Fiji men with a result that Apia forwards hooked the ball on practically
every occasion. Owing to the state of the ground the ball became
very greasy and both teams found it difficult to hold. The Fiji
three-quarters started some good rushes, but could not retain
possession, so instructions were given to keep the ball at the
toe. The local boys were kept on the defensive most of the game,
the black forwards keeping up the pressure, and the backs handled
the slippery ball in good style, kicking to touch with fine judgement,
though using bare feet.
From a dribbling rush, Fiji’s Viliame Devo
picked up smartly and scored 10 yards from the corner for Fiji’s
first ever Test try. Kobiti failed at goal. 3-0.
From the restart, some excellent line kicking
took place on both sides, I Railey (Apia) being partly effective.
At this stage, the Fiji three-quarters were too far apart and
Edward intercepted and raced for the line, but the fullback made
no mistake at the same time one or two others had caught up and
secured the ball and kicked out.
Resuming, some hard, fast and clean play eventuated
and the play was mainly in the Apia 25 until a fine kick drove
Fiji back to their own line.
Several free kicks for offside play by several
of the Fiji men helped the Apia men somewhat. From a mark the
ball was punted and followed on fast Tamanibeka secured, dodged
one or two defenders and dived for the line, getting over with
three opponents hanging on to him. Koroitamudu’s fine effort
at conversion hit the crossbar. 6-0.
Some very clever play was witnessed by both sides
and the spectators, who numbered 500-600, barracked hard for the
local team and in a flash the ball was in the Fiji corner, but
a face relieved; and play was then transformed to centre, where
it remained until the final whistle.
The speed of the Fiji men seemed to be the main
reason for the success attained, but the big sturdy men of Apia
will have to be reckoned with the reversal match is played in
a month’s time.
Practically every man played well and there were
no loafers on either side, each player was out to win. The general
opinion on all sides was that the game was the cleanest and finest
exhibition of football in Samoa. Mr Halliday made an efficient
referee.
The Fiji team sailed again at 6pm en route to
Nuku’alofa a very happy lot and all well, looking forward
confidently to the matches in Tonga.
Apia are very interested in the doings of the
Fiji team and have asked for the results of the Test matches to
be sent to them by radio.
SAMOA:
T Allen, Quapati, Toni, Maimu, Funu, Semisi, Ata, Atiga, H. Moors,
Moli, I Railey, Pio, Edward, A. Meredith, A. Macdonald.
FIJI:
Esava Kobiti, Ulaiasi Vosabalavu, Viliame Devo, Nalovu
Tubutubu, Atunaisa Laqeretabua, Kukuka Bogiwalu, Lepani Matea,
Fereti Naceba, Lepani Tamani, Samisoni Koroitamudu, Isikeli Taukei,
Sakiusa Koroibanuve, Savenaca Tamanibeka, Apimeleki Amaraki, Sairusi
Natuna.
Reserves: Filimone Masivulo, Aloesi Qio, Kemueli Tolili, Solomone
Tuicakau, Ilaisa Tulele. Manager – AS Farebrother
Tries: Devo, Tamanibeka
Referee: HL Halliday
Crowd: 600
Sources:
The Samoa Times; Rakavi 60; Fiji Times & Herald.
"Details
about the 1924 tour, however, remain sketchy. On their return
journey to Suva aboard the SS Tofua, Fiji stopped off in Western
Samoa once more and played another Test in Apia, but this time
the Samoans exacted revenge and won 9-3."
Research and articles courtesy of Teivovo.com
( Jeremy Duxbury )
Fiji
Vs Samoa: 26/09/24
A
very big crowd turned out to see the return match between these
two teams, and the people were rewarded with a very keenly contested
match. There was very little between the two teams. For the first
15 minutes, the Fijian forwards had all the best of it, and kept
the local backs busy repelling attacks. It was obvious after this
burst that the visitors were suffering from the effects of the
hard tour, their play lacking the finish it showed in the first
game.
The
local 15 were in great fettle, and their superior condition soon
began to make itself felt. Several strong raids into the Fijian
territory made it apparent that the command of the game had passed
to the Samoans. a number of penalties were given on both sides
and from these Railey placed two very fine goals.
The
first spell ended in favor of the home team by six to nil. Soon
after the start of the second spell the local forwards led by
Iupati, Allen, Toni and Taualai set up a strong attack, which
ended up in the last named being awarded a try. Moors, Agnew,
Railey and Pio showed up in a couple of passing bouts and Pio
made two valiant efforts to get through, but was tossed out in
each occasions.
Then
Tufele sent out a pass to Edward, who broke through the opposing
backs and looked to be right through but a fast Fijian overhauled
him a few yards from the line. This seemed to wake the blacks
up and two very strong attacks were launched which were ruined
by forward passing, but for the infringement tries were certain
in each case and it was very hard luck for the visitors, as both
scores would have been adjacent to the goal.
A
few minutes before the call of time, a penalty kick gave the black
three points. the game ended with no further change, victory going
to the Samoans 9-3. With a little bit of luck the blacks might
have pulled the game out of the fire. Mr HL Halliday made an efficient
referee in every way.
Date: Friday 19 Sep 1924
Venue: Apia Park, Apia
Half-time: 6-0
Full-time: 9-3 to Samoa
Referee: HL Halliday
Coach Fiji:AS Farebrother
Fiji:
Samoa:
Courtesy FRU
More results
from other years right up to September 3rd 2008 to follow....
