Queen Victoria School, the reigning champion of the under-18 Vodafone Super Deans competition, is making significant progress in their title defense. The team secured their spot in the semi-finals after a closely contested match against Marist Brothers High School, winning 13-6.
Coach Josaia Waiwalu expressed relief at reaching the semi-finals, especially given the unexpected outcomes in other matches on the same day. “It was a big challenge against Marist; they really pushed us to our limits. We anticipated a tough fight from them, but I’m relieved that we made it through. Now we can focus on our upcoming match against Ratu Navula,” he said.
In another quarter-final match, Ratu Navula came from behind to defeat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School 16-10. Waiwalu emphasized the need for his team to remain aware of their opponents’ capabilities as they prepare for the semi-finals.
“It’s vital for us to stay focused. Every team is here to win, and they’ve all trained hard. We must leave no stone unturned and aim to maintain our performance throughout the entire game against Ratu Navula,” he noted. He also pointed out that their concentration waned in the second half of the match against Marist, which allowed their opponents to capitalize on their mistakes.
The team is set to resume training today in preparation for the semi-finals, scheduled to take place at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this Saturday.