The Lami High School Under-19 rugby team showed resilience in the face of criticisms and allegations during the Vodafone Deans Trophy finals, ultimately securing a narrow victory over Queen Victoria School with a score of 20-19. Head coach Beniamino Kakaivalu shared with SUNsports that the team’s social media blackout played a crucial role in their focus, allowing them to concentrate on the game and ward off negative energy.
Kakaivalu expressed optimism, viewing the win as a stepping stone towards future goals, including the intention to assemble an Under-18 team to compete for trophies next year. Reflecting on their challenging journey, Kakaivalu noted that the team had to travel to Vanua Levu for national qualifiers, where they triumphed over Dreketi Central College with a score of 24-21. They advanced to the national quarterfinals, securing victories against Ratu Kadavulevu School (11-5) and Ratu Navula College (13-10) in the semifinals.
Kakaivalu emphasized the significance of their win against Ratu Kadavulevu School, reassuring the players that it was simply a matter of name recognition, and praised their determination, which was evident in their performance during the finals.