The finals of the Vodafone Super Deans competition were held at the HFC Bank Stadium last Saturday, marking a significant moment for the teams in the annual Fiji Secondary Schools meet. Biu Colati, the vice-president of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union, expressed pride in the unique histories and milestones created by various teams throughout the tournament.
Colati highlighted notable achievements, such as Ratu Kadavulevu School’s under-14 victory over Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School with a score of 22-8, and Lami High School’s narrow 20-19 win against Queen Victoria School in the U19 grade final. He emphasized that team rankings from previous zones held little significance when assessing national performances.
He noted the remarkable journey of Lelean Memorial School in the U16 category, where they reached the final against Suva Grammar School and secured a win of 29-12. “Rankings don’t matter, as teams like Lelean have shown remarkable resilience and talent to reach the finals,” Colati remarked.
In addition to these victories, other schools also made their mark this year. MGM High School competed against RKS in the U14 final after notable wins against QVS and Lelean. Meanwhile, Lami High School shocked the favorites QVS in the U19 final, captivating the audience with their performance.
Adi Cakobau School and Niusawa Methodist High School also made history, with both reaching finals for the first time in their respective grades. Niusawa, the sole northern school to reach the finals, played against 2022 champions Natabua High School but fell short, losing 20-15.
Colati expressed his hope that all schools would take inspiration from these positive outcomes as they look ahead to the next season, which promises more excitement and competition for the coveted Deans trophy.