30 Aug 2017

Sport: Fiji Under 20s make winning start to Junior World Trophy

12:21 pm on 30 August 2017

The Fiji Under 20s rugby team have opened their Junior World Trophy campaign win a comfortable 26-7 victory over Hong Kong in Montevideo.

The Baby Flying Fijians led 7-0 at halftime thanks to a seventh minute try from lock and captain Temo Mayanavanua, converted by first five Fabiano Navabale.

Hong Kong levelled the scores with a try eight minutes into the second half but were reduced to 14 players when Gregor Ramage was sent to the sin bin.

Fiji took their chance and regained the lead a minute later with the first of two penalty tries, before number eight Apisalome Bogidrau capped off a dominant performance, charging down the right-hand flank to score in the corner four minutes from full-time.

Fiji feeds the ball to the backs in their first up win over Hong Kong at the Junior World Trophy.

Fiji feeds the ball to the backs in their first up win over Hong Kong at the Junior World Trophy. Photo: World Rugby/Frankie Deges

Captain Temo Mayanavanua was pleased to get the result after a tough start to the match.

"First half Hong Kong held us really tight. That is what we expected, to be a tight first half," he said.

"We are very thankful that his kingdom is there for us - I knew he was there for us and throughout the whole 80 minutes we are very glad, humbled and privileged that we serve a god that is always there for us.

"It's our job to adapt to weather and I'm really humbled and glad that the boys adapted in the second half. It was really tight in the first half, as we expected, but the boys held in and they came out strong.

"I'd like to give a round of applause to the Hong Kong team - they gave us a real good run for our money and they really taught a lot".

The Fiji Under 20s made a winning start against Hong Kong.

The Fiji Under 20s made a winning start against Hong Kong. Photo: Frankie Deges/Uruguay Rugby Union

Fiji's next opponent is hosts Uruguay in four days, who suffered a shock 20-18 defeat by Portugal in their first match.

The overall winner will earn promotion to the elite Junior World Championship in 2018.