The Gospel Saints Under-15 side suffered a narrow setback in their first-ever zone final over the weekend, falling to the RKS Eels in the Vodafone Southern Eastern Zones Secondary Schools Rugby League decider at the St Marcelin Ground in Suva. The loss ended an otherwise flawless run through pool play for the young Saints but, according to team manager Agnes Wye, the experience has only strengthened the squad ahead of the national stage.
“The boys have worked hard. We came undefeated throughout our pool games until the finals, and it has been a big learning experience for us,” Wye said, reflecting on a campaign that marked the school’s maiden appearance in a zone final. Many of the Gospel High School players were competing against top-level opposition for the first time, and Wye said the occasion tested their resolve.
“It was a good game. Some of the boys were disheartened because it’s the first time we’ve lost, but they encouraged each other knowing we still have another round — the national quarter-finals,” she added. The Saints’ focus now shifts to the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League quarter-finals, set for next week, where Wye said correcting errors and boosting confidence will be priorities as the side prepares for its first national outing.
Wye praised the squad’s commitment and the unity shown both on and off the field, noting the role of family and school support in the team’s progress. “Our parents have been tremendous, along with our Under-16 and Under-17 teams. They’ve supported us at training and every Saturday during games. A big vinaka vakalevu to them all,” she said, acknowledging the wider Gospel High School community’s contribution to the club’s breakthrough season.
Despite the disappointment of the zone final, Wye framed the result as a constructive setback rather than a defeat, emphasising that lessons learned under pressure will feed into preparations for the national quarter-finals. With history already made by reaching both a zone final and the school’s first national quarter-final berth, she insisted the Saints remain determined to build on their progress.
As Gospel Saints turn their attention to national competition next week, the immediate tasks are clear: tighten play, address the mistakes that proved costly in the final, and carry the momentum and support cultivated through an unbeaten pool campaign into the next phase. For a young side gaining experience rapidly, the national quarter-finals represent both a test and an opportunity to further cement their rise.
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