Tragedy may rule out game

Puketoi is still to decide whether its Wairarapa-Bush premier division match with unbeaten Bush Sports at Pongaroa on Saturday will go ahead.

Club officials and players were expected to meet late yesterday or today to discuss whether to take the field after the presumed tragic loss of star Fijian midfielder Eroni Ravaga-Gaunavou off Akitio beach on Monday.

Puketoi president Bruce Bowie did not want to pre-empt a decision but said he was committed to bringing closure to what he described as a "massive blow" to the Pongaroa community.

"I am determined to have Eroni delivered back to his family, and I believe many others are feeling the same way," Bowie said yesterday as the search for the body continued. "Right now the rugby is very much a secondary consideration; our thoughts are with Eroni and his family, and only with them."

Bowie said Ravaga-Gaunavou, 22, arrived with a glowing reputation as a skilful midfielder and had enhanced that.

He was selected for the Fiji sevens squad as a 19-year-old but withdrew when hospitalised after eating a poisonous fish.

"You could see why he would shine at sevens, he had a real turn of speed and the agility to go with it. He could attack from anywhere, he was the sort of player who could make something out of nothing."

Bowie said Ravaga-Gaunavou was clearly Puketoi's player of the match when they scored a thrilling 27-22 win over Eketahuna in a Wairarapa-Bush premier division match under lights at Eketahuna last Thursday. He scored two of his team's three tries and made several dazzling bursts during what Bowie labelled an "absolutely superb" individual display.

"I can honestly say you probably won't see a better individual effort than that over the rest of the club season here, he was in a class of his own."

Ravaga-Gaunavou's brilliance had not been lost on Wairarapa-Bush Heartland championship selectors Mark Rutene and Paddy Gough, who had included him in their squad for the side's "friendly"against New Zealand Universities at Memorial Park next Tuesday.