Tailevu North College sweep Ratu Navula 33-13 to reach Deans Trophy Under-19 final
Tailevu North College produced one of the standout results of the Vodafone Deans Trophy with a 33-13 victory over Ratu Navula College in the Under-19 semi-final this afternoon, earning a place in the final against Nasinu Secondary School next weekend.
The match started with Tailevu North wasting no time, crossing from 30 meters out for a try to take a 5-0 lead. Ratu Navula hit back after the restart with a penalty to trim the gap to 5-3. The teams traded points over the next 20 minutes, each side crossing the line once to leave Tailevu North ahead 10-8.
A well-executed Tailevu North set-piece inside Ratu Navula’s 22-meter line saw Tailevu North extend the lead to 15-8 just before halftime. The Tailevu North squad came out firing after the break, adding a penalty to push the advantage to 18-8. They maintained the pressure, scoring again to make it 23-8 and, immediately after the restart, capitalised on a loose ball to extend the margin to 28-8.
Ratu Navula fought back with a hard-fought try, their first since halftime, to reduce the deficit to 28-13 with 30 minutes remaining. Tailevu North then produced a moment of brilliance with a 60-meter break down the left wing to seal the win at 33-13.
Tailevu North will now meet Nasinu Secondary School in the final next weekend, aiming to cap a strong campaign with the ultimate prize. Prior rounds had seen Tailevu North advance past Naitasiri 18-17 to reach the semis, while Ratu Navula earned their spot with a 30-24 quarter-final victory over Ratu Simione Matanitobua College, underscoring the depth of Fiji’s youth rugby and the fierce competition shaping the Deans Trophy.
Commentary: The Tailevu North performance highlighted disciplined defense, strong set-pieces, and clinical finishing when opportunities arose. Ratu Navula fought hard to stay in touch, but Tailevu North’s execution and relentless nodes of pressure ultimately decided the outcome. The final against Nasinu promises to be another exciting chapter in Fiji’s developing school rugby pathway.
What to watch before the final: Nasinu Secondary School have been a defining force in youth rugby this season, and their potential showdown with Tailevu North in the final is set to showcase Fiji’s rising rugby talent on a big stage.
Summary in Fijian
Na Tailevu North College e tala na Ratu Navula College ki na 33-13 ena Deans Trophy Under-19 semi-final. E dai lesu mai na Tailevu North ena 30 na mita me rawarawa 5-0, rai tukuni na Ratu Navula ki na 5-3. E curu tale na veitalanoa e 10-8, qai curu ki 15-8 ena dua na set-piece vinaka mai na Tailevu North ki na 22 mita. Ni ikarua ni gauna, sa curu tale na Tailevu North ki 18-8, sa oti 23-8 kei na duavata ni gauna kei na 28-8. Na Ratu Navula e noda curu ki 28-13 ena 30 na minute. Na Tailevu North e qai vakacegui ena 60 na mita me rawa ki na 33-13. Na final ena macawa ni a cava na Nasinu Secondary School na matua vakavinavinaka. Dia na itukutuku mai na vei tikina taumada: Tailevu North e curu yani ki semi ena vula o Naitasiri 18-17, a Ratu Navula e vakacegui ena 30-24 ki na quarter-final vei Ratu Simione Matanitobua College. Na caka oqo e kilai kina na levu ni veivinakati ena nodra ilakolako na Deans Trophy.
Final note: The article is ready for posting to WordPress with the English content above and the Fijian summary included. If you’d like, I can add a brief match viewer note or player highlight box to draw reader engagement for the final.
Leave a comment