Valley Hunters Escape Upset

The SWG TSI Valley Hunters dug deep to beat the determined Theodist MBB Marlins with a 17-5 win in round 2 of the Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) Premier Grade match on Saturday, April 12th, 2025, at Bava Park.

This match was predicted to be a one-sided affair, given the mismatch between the two sides, but the Theodist-sponsored MBB Marlins rose to the challenge and nearly pulled off an upset against the reigning premiers. 

The MBB Marlins put on a gutsy performance over the Valley Hunters in the first half, taking a slight 5-0 lead. However, the current champions used their experience and outplayed the courageous Marlins in the second half, scoring 2 tries to avoid a boilover.

The Frank Genia-coached men were unbeaten in the preseason and continued their dominance in the opening round of the proper season with a strong victory, hoping to impose their presence again this season.

Coach Frank Genia attributed his men’s clunky performance to the wet conditions and new combinations, noting he was happy they found their rhythm in the second spell to shut down the Gerehu lads. 

“Our poor ball handling and defensive lapses saw the Marlins take advantage and score on the corner,” Genia said.

“The weather conditions, plus the new combinations, and new structures showed that we are still building.

“We dominated possession and position in both halves, but we just couldn’t kick-start our attack due to the handling errors.

“Our better set-piece execution and dominance saw us get some late rewards in the second half. 

“I’m pleased to see that we can score off the first phase and more so, play for 80 minutes. Scoring 2 tries in the last five minutes showed our good resolve and commitment.” 

The Valley Hunters will face the new-look Chemcare Juggernauts in round 3, who stunned the University Piggies in a gritty 16-15 win, with Genia mentioning that they would be up for the challenge. 

“The Juggernauts have a revamped roster and some experience coming across, with Jonah Kautu and Wesley Vali adding depth to their backline and overall attack,” the premiership-winning coach said.

“We are nowhere near our best, but we are creating opportunities, and if we can do that against the Juggernauts, it will be a good contest.

“Hopefully, the weather holds up so we can see a quality game.”

Genia added that they needed to be better in execution and adjust to different weather conditions, building pressure through consistent performance.

Meanwhile, the SWG TSI-backed Valley Hunters club made a clean sweep in every division to start their 2025 CRU campaign on a high note.