Sivo steals limelight in Bati’s dominant win over Kumuls

Photo Credit: nrl.com

The Parramatta Eels try-scoring sensation, Maika Sivo, made his presence felt on Sunday, October 29 – scoring two tries, making a couple of tackle busts, racking up 223 running meters, and snatching the Man-of-the-Match in Fiji Bati’s convincing 43-16 victory over the PNG Kumuls at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

The hulky winger started the game at a slow pace but once he picked up the momentum, he showed no signs of stopping. He was threatening the Kumuls with his strong carries and hit ups. He was solid defensively, too.

After the Kumuls opened up the game with a sleek scrum-base try through Alex Johnston, the Batis responded with a try in the ensuing set through Sivo. Since then, it was all Batis. They were dominating the game all around the park.

Every time Sivo touched the ball, fans would go crazy, screaming at the top of their lungs and chanting “Sivo”! The fans’ support puts Sivo on a pedestal, pumping the Fijian hitman to unleash his beast mode and sending the raucous crowd into frenzy.

The 30-year-old was given a rousing support. He does not possess brute strength only, but he has speed to burn. No wonder he scores tries for fun in the NRL, making it look like a backyard footy.

Sivo capped off the third week of Pacific Championship with a stellar performance. He is looking forward to replicating that performance on Sunday, November 5, when the PNG Kumuls take on the Fiji Bati in the decider.

The Batis and Sivo are upbeat to end their campaign on a whitewash, while the Kumuls will look to exact revenge on their Melanesian arch-nemesis.

The stakes are higher for both sides, as they lock horns to contend for supremacy in the Pacific Championship Bowl challenge.

Sunday’s match will be a much-anticipated encounter. Everyone is looking forward to watching it. The big dance should be a reaper.