Natabua High School’s under-18 Raluve team fought through a determined Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School to win 15-12 to head into the final of the under-18 grade for the Weet-Bix Raluve competition yesterday.
It’s been the latest achievement for the team out of Lautoka after a dominant run at the zone level and following their 12-5 win over Adi Cakobau School in the quarter-finals more than a week ago.
Team coach Inoke Vucago said it’s the latest win in the bag for them after having to defend the title through thick and thin this year.
“Hats off to the girls today, they’ve worked really hard. They know they were coming in for a tough match,” Vucago said.
“And MGM, we thank MGM for giving us a good run for the game, we know it’s very hard defending the title this year.”
The team set out from the West to complete yesterday’s assignment with a win and upon its accomplishment, he acknowledged the vast support of students, parents, guardians and ex-scholars who turned up in droves to witness them head into the final this week.
”We just worked on our defence which proved (itself) in the last few minutes of the game, the girls held up towards the end of the game,” he mentioned.
As they head back to Lautoka to prepare for the final this week, he adds the improvements will continue.
“We’ll go back and we’ll just improve on the small things that we need to work on,” he said.
“I’ve got a good coaching crew here who’s been helping out with the specifics on defence, thanks to the supporters that have come and a big vinaka vakalevu to the supporters, the staff, the old scholars, the parents especially.”
Natabua will meet Jasper Williams High School in the final of the under-18 Raluve grade this Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium.