LELEAN Memorial School’s theme “Year of abundance” has started off well after they won the inaugural Uprising Schools tournament of the Bayleys Coral Coast 7s.

After walking away with $4000 as their prizemoney, LMS principal Ledua Colati said the players didn’t train together as a team but he was grateful for their achievements.

“I take my hat off to them as there was no organised training, they did well, at times slowed down because the heat was too much for us, but they did it in the end,” Colati said.

Colati said the prizemoney won at the tournament would be used to help start the school’s rugby team for tournaments ahead.

Lelean had opened the scores with a try in the first minute of the final match but the game against Tuva was a no walk in the park for them.

Just a minute later, Tuva retaliated to score under the posts with a conversion as they played organised rugby to lead LMS by 7-5.

LMS didn’t give up as they continued to bulldoze the Tuva defence with their efforts leading to two more tries for a 17-7 lead at half time.

Realising that the scorching sun was playing its part in weakening the LMS defence, the Tuva boys continued to push on until they scored a last-minute converted try for a 17-14 score margin in the end.

But the effort was a little too late to give them the win, however, Tuva returned home $2000 richer for being the runners up.