Apia Barracudas won the Samoa Games rugby league nines with a 10-8 victory over Letava Bulldogs at the Marist Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Barracudas walked away with $1000 cash along with a trophy and medals. Barracuda’s captain Tagaloa Ionatana Tino said it was not an easy win over one of Samoa’s veteran league clubs.

He said their team had been preparing well ahead of the Samoa Games, saying, “I believe we trained the best that we could and this is the result of all of that.

“One of the main reasons why we are training so hard is to make the most of the opportunity to represent Samoa at the Pacific Games at the end of this year if the Lord permits.” 

Samoa Games has also presented their team with the opportunity of developing their younger players who according to the captain makes up most of their team.

The team’s performance didn't go unnoticed with their coach, Vaelua Tagaloa Roebeck saying that he was proud of the way they kept to the game plan against a strong Letava Bulldogs side.

“I thank God for this win today and I am extremely happy with the outcome. We had a plan and they stuck to it. A lot of our teachings are based on biblical principles and I am grateful that the Apia Barracudas are able to obey and listen to what is being taught to them during training.

The coach also expressed his appreciation to the opposing team who have been in the game for a long time.

The Bulldogs walked off the field with their silver medals determined to come back stronger and dethrone the Apia Barracudas at the next Samoa Games.