Expect to see the unusual walk of the Suva Grammar School under-18 team rugby side against rare opponent Natabua High School in tomorrow’s 2022 Vodafone Super Deans Trophy Championship at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
The Veiuto-based school will put on its Lion characters as it marches towards reclaiming the coveted Fiji Secondary Schools rugby silverware which it just won twice since 1939 – 2001, and 2005 which it shared between Ratu Kadavulevu School.
Tomorrow, Tailevu native Livai Tawake will captain SGS in its bid to reach the final.
“We have prepared well, gone through all challengers and are ready for Saturday,” Tawake, who is from Vadrai in Nakelo said.
The side was farewelled by the school principal Iosefo Masivue yesterday.
His said the school, through sports and academic performance, was to build character. “Character building,” he said.
“It is not about winning, it is about building a good character in students for their future.”
Tawake, whose father is a teacher, will incorporate the teachings from home, school and rugby to dish out sound judgements tomorrow. Any wrong decision can cost them the final.
“My message to the players will just to do their best and perform to their maximum ability. We will try and beat Natabua mentally by being on top of things on the ground and avoid making mistakes. This is our chance because our Coca-Cola Games athletes had done their part, now it is our turn. We then call on our fans and families to come out and support us,” Tawake said.
He will lead his pride of ‘Lions,’ as the underdogs in their semi-final against Natabua which dethroned defending champion Queen Victoria School 21-19 in the quarter-finals in Suva last weekend. Tawake and his players will wear the lion character.
They are a giant in Fijian school sports, work together and protect each other as a pride of lions, brave, skillful hunters who are poised for battle at anytime.
They will not settle for second best as they run towards the vacant title left behind by Matavatucou last week.
Vodafone Deans and Weet-Bix Raluve semi-finals, Saturday, Prince Charles Park, Nadi. Ground 1: 8.30am: U14: Suva Grammar v RKS, 9.35am: U17: RKS v QVS, 10.55am: U17: RKS v MBHS, 12.20pm: Raluve U18: St Bedes v Natabua, 1.10pm: Raluve U18: Jasper v St John’s College, 2.05pm: U18: Natabua v SGS, 3.35pm: U18: Ba Pro v MBHS. Grnd 2: 8.30am: U14: QVS v MBHS, 9.30am: Raluve U16: Sigatoha Methodist v Bucalevu, 10.30am: Raluve U16: Naitasiri v Jasper Williams, 11.25am: U19: Ra High v RKS, 12.50pm: Raluve U18: Lelean v Ratu Navula. Grnd 3: 8.30am: U15: Natabua v RKS, 9.40am: U15: QVS v Lelean, 10.50am: U16: Cuvu College v QVS, 12.05pm: U16: SGS v RKS.
