Marist Brothers High School under-18 side held off a tough Nasinu Secondary School team 20-9 in the second round of the Southern Zone Deans competition at the MBHS grounds yesterday.
Marist started strong, scoring the first try of the match early in the first half.
The conversion was missed, but they led 5-0.
They added to their lead with a penalty kick, taking the score to 8-0.
Marist then crossed over for their second try just before halftime.
The conversion was again missed, and the hosts went into the break leading 13-0.
Nasinu responded early in the second half with a successful penalty kick to get on the scoreboard at 13-3.
However, Marist stretched their lead again with a third try, and this time the conversion went through to make it 20-3.
Nasinu didn’t back down and were rewarded with two more penalty kicks, closing the gap to 20-9.
But that was as close as they got, as Marist’s defence held firm in the final stages of the match.
The win gives Marist their second straight victory in the competition, as they continue to build momentum in the Southern Zone.
Nasinu showed good discipline and capitalised well on penalties but struggled to break through the Marist line for a try.
Results: Western Zone, U14 DHS 17-10 NSS. U15 RNC 20-8 SVC. U17 SVC 27-0 NMC, NHS 20-17 Tilak. U16 SVC 3-15 RNC. U18 NHS 31-7 RHS.
Southern Zone: U14: DHS 17-10 NSS.U15 SGS 53-3 Suva Sangam, AOG 15-14 Kalabu, RSMS 22-17 JWC, MGM 78-0 Rampur. U16: DHS 10-5 Nabua. U18: Nasinu 46-0 AOG, SGS WBD Kalabu, MGM 8-12 Lomary. U19: LSS 22-10 Namosi. Raluve: U18 JWH 12-5 NHS, Nasinu 12-12 Lomaivuna, MGM 8-12 Lomary. U16: DAV 0-22 Latianara. U18: QVS 12-0 LMS.
