Cuvu College showcased their resilience in a thrilling Vodafone Super Deans under-18 match, staging a late comeback to defeat Ratu Kadavulevu School 23-20 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. After trailing 19-13 at halftime, Cuvu entered the second half with renewed determination, scoring two unconverted tries to take the lead. RKS managed only a penalty in the second half.
The match ended in confusion as RKS believed they had won when they kicked the ball out, prompting celebrations from both teams. However, FSSRU officials clarified a scoring error that could have awarded the win to RKS, ensuring the victory remained with Cuvu.
Cuvu College principal Manoj Vikash expressed his pride in the team’s performance, revealing how deeply the win impacted him emotionally. He highlighted the importance of rugby as a career path for the students, and how this victory opens new opportunities for them.
Coach Samisoni Navatu attributed the team’s second-half turnaround to instilling self-belief in the players. He praised their long commitment to the program and emphasized the significance of playing their style of rugby to achieve victory. Navatu also expressed gratitude to the supporters who traveled from afar to cheer for the team.