Nasinu Secondary School triumphed in a thrilling match against Queen Victoria School, progressing to the semifinals of the Vodafone Deans U18 tournament. The teams ended in a dramatic 20–20 tie, with Nasinu emerging victorious based on having scored more tries than their opponents.
This match was a significant turnaround from last year’s competition, where Queen Victoria School defeated Nasinu in the finals. The game started with QVS taking an early lead when Isimeli Bari successfully converted a penalty in the sixth minute. However, Nasinu quickly responded, with tries from Josevata Vuibete and Viliame Rokobuli giving them a 15–13 lead at halftime after Bari kicked another penalty.
In the second half, Nasinu extended their lead with an early penalty from Iowane Nabe, but QVS fought back fiercely. Kitione Tabala and Saimone Vaisova scored tries for QVS, shifting the momentum back in their favor. Yet, Nasinu’s determination shined through, as Nabe’s try in the 66th minute brought the score to an exciting 20–20 deadlock.
With the full-time score even, the match was decided by the countback rule, which favored Nasinu due to their three tries against QVS’s two, sealing their place in the semifinals.
This victory not only marks a redemption for Nasinu but also fuels their aspirations to advance further in the tournament, potentially surpassing last year’s achievement. The resilience and teamwork displayed by Nasinu serve as an inspiring example of sport’s ability to bring about change and foster hope for the future.
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