Lelean Memorial School’s Knights have shifted their focus to defence as they step up preparations for the national secondary schools Under-17 championships following a dramatic last-gasp victory over defending champions Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) Eels. The Davuilevu-based Southern Zone champions say shoring up defensive structures is now the priority as organisers prepare to confirm national quarter-final details later this week.
Head coach Qio Filipe said the narrow win last Saturday showcased the team’s grit but also exposed vulnerabilities that cannot be carried into a knockout national tournament. “At the moment our defence is our greatest work on; this was evident today (last Saturday). We need to get that right before the nationals,” Filipe told reporters, underlining that the national championships will be a different ball game with no second chances in the quarter-finals.
Captain Kaveni Tuisavura echoed his coach’s assessment, pinpointing specific technical flaws that contributed to Lelean having to chase the game. “We need to improve our passing; most of our passing were not connecting today, our tackles as well were lacking and our communication on the field really let us down. That’s why we had to play catch-up for most of the match,” Tuisavura said, adding that the team must return to basics before facing the best sides in the country.
The Knights’ come-from-behind victory over RKS — sealed in the final minute — has given the squad confidence, but also a clear reminder of the margins at national level. Lelean fell short of reaching the national finals last year and are treating this season as an opportunity to correct course. Filipe framed the current emphasis on defence as both a tactical necessity and a response to the pressure of knockout rugby. “There are no second chances at that stage,” he said.
Preparations have intensified at the Davuilevu campus, with coaches doubling up training sessions to reinforce tackling technique, communication drills and ball-handling fundamentals. While specifics of the national draw are yet to be published, the coaching staff is preparing the side for a likely encounter with several of Fiji’s top Under-17 programmes and is prioritising a compact, disciplined defensive shape to avoid being forced into high-risk attacking plays.
The confirmation of quarter-final fixtures later this week will set the timetable for Lelean’s final lead-up work. For now, the Knights’ camp is balancing the momentum of a gutsy win with the sober assessment that success at nationals will hinge on tightening defence and fixing routine errors. “We know it will be tough, but we are ready. This victory has given us confidence, and we are excited to compete at the next level,” Tuisavura said, as the team refocuses on the fundamentals that their coaches believe will carry them deeper into the tournament.
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