Queen Victoria School showcased their dominance by securing their 25th Vodafone Super Deans trophy with a thrilling 27-13 victory over Nasinu Secondary School in the final held last night.
As the defending champions, QVS returned to Matavatucou with the prestigious trophy after a strong performance on the field. They established an early lead with two quick tries courtesy of hooker Waisake Vakacere and number eight Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula, setting a solid foundation for their win.
Despite facing a size disadvantage, Nasinu displayed clever tactics and managed to respond with two penalties scored by Samuela Rogoci to narrow the gap. As the score reached 6-12, QVS ensured they maintained a lead heading into halftime, with fullback Nathan Stephens adding another penalty to make it 15-6 at the break.
The second half continued to be competitive, with Ilaitia Rakuro scoring for QVS, followed closely by a response from Nasinu’s Sionasa Verenasau, bringing the score to 13-20. Nasinu aimed for a converted try to level the score but QVS countered effectively, culminating in Asaeli Gade scoring in the corner.
QVS head coach Josaia Waiwalu highlighted the importance of defense throughout the competition, stressing that while attack is often emphasized, strong defensive strategies are key to their success.
As the match approached its conclusion, alumni of QVS celebrated by singing their school song, marking another significant achievement for their team. Maleli Nauvasi received recognition as the best player of the final, and the team also took home a cash prize of $7,000.
In other results from the tournament, Ratu Kadavulevu School claimed the U14 title with a 22-8 victory over Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School. Suva Grammar School triumphed in the U15 and U16 categories, defeating Marist Brothers High School 31-24 and Lelean Memorial School 29-12, respectively. In the U17 division, RKS and Marist ended in a dramatic 35-35 tie, while Lami High School made history by narrowly defeating QVS 20-19.
Additionally, in the Weet-Bix Raluve competition, Sigatoka Methodist College successfully defended their U16 title, winning decisively against Niusawa Methodist High School with a score of 20-0.