Queen Victoria School is on course to defend their title as the under-18 Vodafone Super Deans champions. The team secured a hard-fought victory against Marist Brothers High School, winning 13-6 in the quarter-finals on Saturday. Coach Josaia Waiwalu expressed relief at reaching the semi-finals, especially after witnessing numerous upsets in the competition.
“It’s a big relief knowing that we have finally made it to the semi-finals because we saw many upsets today. It was a big challenge against Marist; they really put up a fight. We were aware they would come aggressively, and they did. I’m just glad it’s over, and we can now look forward to our match against Ratu Navula,” Waiwalu said.
Ratu Navula, the upcoming opponents, advanced to the semi-finals after overcoming Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School in a close match, finishing 16-10. Waiwalu acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasizing the need for his team to remain vigilant and maintain focus throughout the game.
“Definitely, every team here has come to win and has prepared well. We must be very mindful of that and ensure we play a full 70 minutes next week against RNC. We started well but lacked concentration in the second half. That’s something we need to improve as we advance,” he noted.
The team will resume training today in preparation for the semi-finals, which will take place at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this Saturday.