A RESILIENT defensive display earned Ba Provincial Freebird Institute a 13-3 victory over Ratu Navula College in their Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Western Zone under-18 round-robin clash at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka last Saturday.
The win ensured Ba Provincial retained second place in the Western Zone standings, securing automatic qualification to the national U18 top 16 playoffs.
Head coach Krishant Reddy described the contest as a game of two contrasting halves, with his side dominating the opening spell before being forced to withstand relentless pressure after the break.
“It was a game of two halves,” Reddy said.
“In the first half we were more dominant with our attack, and in the second half Ratu Navula came at us strongly.
“We were very happy that our boys stayed strong on defence.
“It’s not easy to play a game of rugby without the ball. We have been reminding the boys about the importance of working hard without possession and I thought they responded really well.”
The 13-3 victory was a timely morale booster for Ba Provincial after Natabua High School beat them earlier.
“We had a tough game last week against Natabua and unfortunately we lost,” Reddy said.
“Our goal coming here was to get the win, secure our place in the top four and build momentum going into the national top 16 playoffs.”
While pleased with the result, Reddy said there was still work to do before the knockout stages.
“There are a couple of simple things we need to improve, especially our ball carry into contact and adapting to different playing conditions,” he said.
“Sometimes we play in windy conditions and how we adjust to those conditions will be crucial in the national top 16.”
Reddy also paid tribute to the team’s parents, describing their support throughout the campaign as one of the squad’s greatest strengths.
“Our biggest strength is our parents,” he said.
“They have been with us throughout our preparation, helping with nutrition and hydration and travelling with us to every game. We are thankful we were able to put a smile on their faces.”
Ba Provincial will now shift its focus to the national U18 top 16 play-offs, carrying valuable confidence from a gritty 13-3 victory.
