This years Crompton Cup, the annual district association challenge trophy, was held in Lautoka and Nadi between April 12th and 16th.

Eight teams competed, four from the islands of the Lau Group, two from the capital, Suva, one from Nadi and one from Labasa on the other main island of Vanua Levu.

The teams were split into two pools, with four teams playing in Lautoka and four in Nadi.

The Nadi pool consisted of Nadi, Komo, Tubou and Suva Crusaders, while at Lautoka, Cicia, Suva Warriors, Moce and Labasa fought it out.

Weather conditions prior to the tournament were typical of the season as a whole. Consistent rain in the previous week and heavy overnight showers had prevented any preparatory work and the grounds were saturated.

The island spirit prevailed however and all pool games were played - pool being a most appropriate description!

The highly favoured Suva teams, each containing several national representatives, were both beaten by the island sides of Tubou and Moce and finished second in their groups. The semi-finals were between Suva Crusaders and Moce and between Suva Warriors and Tubou. Moce beat Suva Crusaders by 5 wickets and Suva Warriors beat Tubou by 7 wickets.

The final was held at Churchill Park, Lautoka. By this time the weather had changed, the City Council had been able to get onto the ground and Churchill Park looked a picture.

Suva Warriors batted first and were all out for 144 in 30 overs. Moce batted very sensibly and reached 108-3 in 23 overs, and looked in complete control.

However a complete collapse saw 6 wickets fall for 3 runs and Moce were all out for 111 to give Suva a win by 33 runs. The best performance of the final was the bowling of Baletaione for Moce who took 8 wickets for 43 runs. The highest score was 31 scored by Waisake Tukaha, also from Moce.

The final was umpired by New Zealand Test Umpire, Brian Aldridge and Fiji's Tony Cooper.

Over 300 people watched the final, and saw the trophies presented by the Commissioner Eastern, Savenaca Draunidalo.

The Crompton Cup went to Suva Warriors, the highest team score trophy went to Suva Crusaders with 181, the best batting to Iniasi Cakacaka from Suva Crusaders with a score of 74, and the best bowling to Labasa's under 19 player Manansa Leku with 7 wickets for 7 runs.

Results:

Lautoka pool: Suva Crusaders, Nadi, Komo, Tubou
KOMO 95-4 (Inoke Bose 19, Ledua 37) def. NADI 83-9 (Namua 21; Usa 3-3, Atu 
3-11) by 12 runs at Nadi College.

TUBOU 126-7 (Sami 62, Jone 24 n.o; Jone Seuvou 3-9) def.
SUVA CRUSADERS 112 all out (Cakacaka 33, Tavo Sorovakatini 28, Iniasi 
Cakacaka 25, Colin Rika 24; Meleki 4-11) by 14 runs at Nadi Muslim School.

SUVA CRUSADERS 119-4 (23 overs) (Iniasi Cakacaka 25, Tavo Sorovakatini 23 
n.o., Seci 20) def.
NADI 70-6 (16.2 overs) (Tariq 21; Jone Seuvou 4-23) on run rate (bad light).

TUBOU 141-8 (Temo 72 n.o., Watisoni Uluiviti 30; Ledua 3-33) def.
KOMO 79 (Atu 26; Meleki 2-24, Temo 3-18, Joji 3-13) by 62 runs at Nadi 
Muslim.

TUBOU 72 (Joji 33; Papa Bakewa 6-10) def.
NADI 53 (Temo 3-14, Tavo 3-8, Meleki 3-10) by 19 runs at Nadi Muslim.

SUVA CRUSADERS 181 (Vuli 22, Iniasi Cakacaka 74, Dabea 32) def.
KOMO 86 (Jone Seuvou 3-3) by 95 runs at Nadi Muslim.

Lautoka Pool: Moce, Suva Warriors, Labasa and Cicia

LABASA lost to SUVA WARRIORS by nine wickets at Churchill Park.

NADI 19 (Atu 4-10, Joeli Mateyawa 4-5) lost to SUVA WARRIORS 23-1.

CICIA 18 lost to MOCE 19-1 at Nadovu

SUVA WARRIORS 134-7 (Tupou Colati 33, Sakiusa Yalisaya 29; Kini 3-29) def.
CICIA 15 all out (Jone Mateyawa 4-3, Jikoi Kida 3-1) by 119 runs at Nadovu.

LABASA 26 (Waisake 5-9, Watisoni 5-14) lost to
MOCE 32-1 by nine wickets at Churchill Park.

SUVA WARRIORS 82 (Joeli Mateyawa 28; Maika 3-10) lost to
MOCE 87-4 (Waisake 25, Maika 25) by six wickets at Churchill Park.

CICIA 77 (Takayawa Tikoisuva 38; Manasa Leku 7-7) lost to
LABASA 78-9 (Maika 3-33) by one wicket at Nadovu.

Semi-finals:
TUBOA 113 (Eseroma 24; Jone Mateyawa 3-15) def. SUVA WARRIORS 118-3 (Taione 
Cakacaka 31, Sakiusa Yalisaya 31 n.o) by seven wickets at Nadi Muslim.
SUVA CRUSADERS 83 (Seci Tuwai 23, Tavo Sorovakatini 31; Baletaione 4-26) 
def. MOCE 88-5 by five wickets at Churchill Park.

Final
At Churchill Park, Lautoka. Umpires: Brian Aldridge (NZ) & Tony Cooper 
(Fiji)
SUVA WARRIORS 144 (Tavo Sorovakatini 23, Sakiusa Yalasaya 22; Baletaione 
8-43) def.
MOCE 111 (Waisaki Tukaha 31, Maika Kamikamica 27; Sakiusa Yalasaya 4-32, 
Atunaiasi Tawatatau 2-15, Joeli Matayawa 2-21) by 33 runs.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd