The Kaliova Bulai-captained Ba Methodist High School Under-19 team is determined to leave no stone unturned in the Western Secondary Schools Rugby Deans Championship quarterfinal at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, tomorrow.
They will face Sigatoka Valley Secondary School in what promises to be an exciting match. The Paula Tuiloma-coached side recently defeated Nasau Secondary School 31-3 in the Ba/Tavua/Ra Zone final held at Garvey Park, Tavua, last Saturday.
Several members of the team previously played for the school’s Under-18 sevens rugby team, which narrowly lost to eventual winners Ratu Navula College 15-10 at the HFC Bank Stadium 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 at its peak,” he added.
The team will place its hopes on key players such as prop Kaliova Bulai, full-back Pio Bosco Tikoisuva (Jnr), and winger Petero Dauniseka.
In the Under-16 grade, the Josateki Naliva-captained side will face Sigatoka Methodist College in the quarterfinal. “This team is made up of only 16 boys who were left out from the other two teams, and it has done wonders. They were undefeated in the zone, and we hope they can go beyond the quarters,” Wise said. Coached by Thomas Vuto, the team relies on dynamic flankers Rupeni Nailatikau and Asivorosi Nahiga to dominate the breakdowns.
In the Under-15 grade, the Osea Naura-captained side will take on Cuvu College. “This is the same group of boys that made history earlier this year by winning the National Secondary Schools Rugby League Under-15 grade final,” Wise stated. The team includes notable players like Seruvi Vakalolo, Semi Sasai, and Eneri Saunivalu.
Tomorrow’s draws are as follows:
Under-15: 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
Under-16: Ba Provincial Freebird vs. Swami Vivekananda College, Cuvu College vs. Ra High School, Ba Methodist High vs. Sigatoka Methodist College
Under-17: 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
Under-19: 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.
Under-14: Ratu Navula College vs. Ra High School
Under-18 pool plays: Cuvu College vs. Ratu Navula College.
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