1 week Ago By The Fiji Times
Tight fielding and bat-cracking bowling by Ono-i-Lau enabled them to beat Lakeba A in the semi-final of the Lau Cricket competition in Tubou, Lautoka. An article published by The Fiji Times on May 12, 1990 reported in a limited overs Ono scored 122 runs to Lakeba’s 103. Topscorer for Ono was Mesake Cama with 41 runs.
Other Ono players with double figures were Asaeli Bale, 25, Taitusi Tuityawa 18 and Jeremaia Veiseyaki on 14. Topscorer for Lakeba was Alisaya Lutukiwai with 31 runs. Other double points scorers for Lakeba were Viliame Tuinaceva with 12 runs and Josetaki Nopoci with 10 runs.
The win ensured Ono a berth in the finals against the winner of the Komo-Lakeba C battle. The result of the game could not be obtained at press time. Lakeba were winners of the Lau meet since 1985 and were shock losers in the semifinals.
Ono, meanwhile, were boosted with the win. Ono cricket sat on the back burner in the ’60s and early ’70s because of the emphasis on rugby in which most of the islanders played for Vanuabalavu in the annual Island Zone rugby competition. Cricket came back into prominence on the island in the early ’80s.
In 1984 Ono won the Crompton Cup in Lautoka. Since then, island sport organisers had put emphasis on the development of youth cricket and victory over champions Lakeba proved their worthwhile plan. Meanwhile, celebrations held on the island for the 70th birthday of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara came to a climax when the week-long feasting ended.
All sports held on the island also held their respective finals which also led to the announcement of the Lau provincial team to the Island Zone rugby championship in Suva in August. Guests who arrived on the island to participate in the celebrations were expected to begin leaving the island by midnight..
