Ba Methodist High School is gearing up for a decisive day of rugby league this Saturday as its junior teams head to 4R Stadium in Ba for the West Secondary School Rugby League quarterfinals. The Ba-based school will field three age-grade sides in the knockout phase, with the under-15s drawn against the SMC Knights and the under-17s set to meet the Drasa Rams. The under-19 side has already secured a spot in the national quarterfinals, underscoring the program’s strength across all levels.
Teacher-in-charge David Wise said the school has been preparing intensively and is confident its players are ready for the pressure of knockout rugby. “We are looking forward to the games. It will be an exciting day,” Wise said, adding that the boys have been well drilled and understand the demands of quarterfinal football. He urged the Ba community and former students to turn out in force to support the three teams. “We expect our fans to come out in numbers and support our three teams. It will be tough games, but the boys are prepared,” he said.
Ba Methodist’s recent ascent in the Western Division has been fuelled in part by the establishment of a Ba Rugby Academy within the school, which coaches and administrators credit with attracting and developing some of the region’s top young talent. The academy model has provided structured training, regular competition and a clearer pathway for promising players to progress through the school’s ranks, contributing to the depth that sees all three age groups competitive at the quarterfinal stage.
The West Secondary School Rugby League quarterfinals at 4R Stadium are a key step on the road to provincial and national honours, and Ba Methodist will be expected to be one of the teams to beat in the Western draw. The under-19s’ qualification for the national quarterfinals already signals the program’s capacity to compete beyond the region; the outcomes of Saturday’s U15 and U17 matches will determine whether the school can broaden that representation further.
Opponents SMC Knights and Drasa Rams both arrive in Ba with their own ambitions, setting the stage for what Wise called “tough games” where composure and discipline will matter as much as flair. With quarterfinals often decided by small margins, the emphasis in Ba Methodist’s preparations has been on match fitness, defensive organisation and execution under pressure.
Local supporters are being asked to back the teams at 4R Stadium as the school attempts to translate its recent development work into results on the field. Success in Saturday’s ties would keep Ba Methodist’s season alive and build momentum towards the national knockout stages, while defeat would bring the curtain down on another strong campaign for the smaller age groups.
The quarterfinal fixtures will provide an early indicator of the progress made by the Ba Rugby Academy and the school’s coaching staff this season, and with the under-19s already advancing, all eyes in the Western Division will be on Ba Methodist this weekend as it seeks to consolidate its reputation as a rugby league force in the region.
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