Ba Methodist High School’s Under-19 rugby team, led by captain Kaliova Bulai, is determined to give their all in the Western Secondary Schools Rugby Deans Championship quarterfinal at Prince Charles Park in Nadi tomorrow. They will face Sigatoka Valley Secondary School in what promises to be an exciting match.
The team, coached by Paula Tuiloma, recently defeated Nasau Secondary School 31-3 in the Ba/Tavua/Ra Zone final at Garvey Park, Tavua, last Saturday. Many players from this team also played in the school’s U18 sevens rugby team, which narrowly lost to Ratu Navula College 15-10 during the Term One holidays.
“This is the first time we are fielding three teams and I hope that the Under-19 side makes an impact,” said PEMAC head of department David King Wise. “The team looks in top form, with the boys’ morale being boosted to the fullest,” he added.
The team will rely on key players such as prop Kaliova Bulai, full-back Pio Bosco Tikoisuva (Jnr), and winger Petero Dauniseka.
In the U16 grade, the team captained by Josateki Naliva will compete against Sigatoka Methodist College in the quarterfinal. “This team consists of only 16 boys who didn’t make the other two teams, but they’ve performed remarkably well. They were undefeated in the zone and hope to advance beyond the quarterfinals,” Wise said.
The U16 team, coached by Thomas Vuto, also features standout flankers Rupeni Nailatikau and Asivorosi Nahiga, who will be instrumental in the breakdowns.
For the U15 grade, the team captained by Osea Naura will face Cuvu College. “This same group of boys made history earlier this year by winning the National Secondary Schools Rugby League Under-15 grade final,” Wise noted. Prominent players in this team include Seruvi Vakalolo, Semi Sasai, and Eneri Saunivalu.
Tomorrow’s fixtures include:
– U15: Natabua High School vs. Swami Vivekananda College, Sigatoka Methodist College vs. AD Patel, Ba Methodist vs. Cuvu College, Ratu Navula College vs. Ba Provincial Freebird
– U16: Ba Provincial Freebird vs. Swami Vivekananda College, Cuvu College vs. Ra High School, Ba Methodist High vs. Sigatoka Methodist College
– U17: Xavier College vs. Korovuto College, Sigatoka Valley Secondary School vs. AD Patel, Natabua High vs. Nadi Muslim College, Ratu Navula College vs. St Thomas High School
– U19: Ba Methodist vs. Sigatoka Valley Secondary School, Nasikawa Vision College vs. Nasau Secondary School, Ratu Navula College vs. Drasa Secondary School, Ba Provincial Freebird Institute vs. Sigatoka Andra Sangam College
– U14: Ratu Navula College vs. Ra High School
– U18 pool play: Cuvu College vs. Ratu Navula College