Talented Fijian out of action

It's the news Wairarapa United didn't want to hear.
The injury inflicted on skipper Pita Rabo during his team's 3-2 return central league playoff match with Maycenvale United at Hastings last weekend will sideline him for up to six weeks.
Which means the popular Fiji international won't be available for either of Wairarapa United's central league promotion-relegation games with Stop Out over the next fortnight, the first of them at the Pugh Sports Bowl this Saturday and the second in Wellington a week later.
Rabo was the victim of a late tackle just 10 minutes into the Hastings game.He fell heavily on a shoulder and was forced to leave the field.
X-rays show the collarbone to be shattered in three places.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley said no one was more disappointed than Rabo himself.
"Pita has had central league as a goal ever since joining up with us four years ago he's devastated he won't be there for the two games which decide whether we finally make it," Keinzley said.
"He probably still thinks we should risk him but it's out of the question, the injury is way too bad for that."
Keinzley said Rabo who has also played rugby sevens for Fiji offered so many things to Wairarapa United leadership, composure, vision and goal-scoring potential amongst them.
"He's inspirational, he gives confidence to those around him. Everything about him is positive."
With an eye to the promotion-relegation matches though, Keinzley says Wairarapa United's effort to beat Maycenvale United last Saturday without their captain for all but the first 10 minutes was a morale booster.
"They were a bit like headless chooks once he was gone but we talked at the break about players having to take greater responsibility for their own actions and they did exactly that in the second half," he said.
"Obviously we are better off with Pita but it's not all doom and gloom because he won't be there we got the result we wanted last weekend and we can do it again."
Actually Keinzley still sees Rabo playing a huge part in the promotion-relegation games but as assistant coach rather than player.
"We always talk things over tactically anyway&.he reads the game so well.And having him right there on the sideline will be an incentive for the players." Saturday's is Wairarapa United's last home game of what has been a hugely successful season, a season which has seen them win both the Hilton Petone Cup pre-season tourney and the Capital premier division title for the first time in their history.
And with the result so pivotal to Wairarapa United's dream of attaining central league status, also for the first time, hopes are for a record crowd at the Pugh Sports Bowl for the 2pm kickoff.
Keinzley says the vocal support of a big crowd was instrumental in his team scoring their memorable 4-0 win over Maycenvale United at the same venue a couple of Saturdays ago, and he is keen for a similar atmosphere this weekend.