Defending champions Queen Victoria School (QVS) are progressing well in the under-18 Vodafone Super Deans tournament as they aim to defend their title. On Saturday, QVS secured a narrow 13-6 victory against Marist Brothers High School in the quarter-finals.
Coach Josaia Waiwalu expressed relief at reaching the semi-finals, especially after witnessing numerous upsets during the day. He acknowledged the tough competition posed by Marist, stating, “It was a big challenge against Marist, I think they gave us a run for our money. We knew they were going to come to fight and they threw everything at us. I’m glad that it is finally over and we can move on from here and look forward to the match against Ratu Navula.”
Ratu Navula earned their place in the semi-finals by coming from behind to defeat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School 16-10. Waiwalu indicated that his team must remain vigilant in preparation for the upcoming semi-final match. “I think every team is here to win, they have prepared so well. We are leaving no stone unturned so we must be very mindful of that,” he said, emphasizing the need for his players to maintain focus for the full 70 minutes.
He noted that concentration levels dipped in the second half against Marist, which nearly cost them the game. “The cohesion – we started well, but towards the end we slackened off, and that’s when Marist smelled blood. It’s a lesson learned for us especially after two weeks of no footy at all.”
The team will continue their preparations today as they gear up for the semi-finals scheduled to take place at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this Saturday.