LAMI High School’s under-17 rugby league team pulled off a major upset against Nasinu Secondary School, securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the Southern Zone of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League (FSSRL) competition.
In a tough and physical encounter, it was Meli Semese who made the difference, successfully converting the only penalty of the match in the second half, sealing the win for Lami High School.
This victory was especially sweet for Lami, who had long struggled to overcome the strong Nasinu side.
Team manager Poasa Soqonakoula shared his thoughts after the match.
“We prepared well and knew taking on Nasinu wouldn’t be easy. They’ve been giants in this competition for a long time,” he said.
“Getting this win feels great, but it’s not the end. We’ll sharpen our focus and get ready for our next match.” Soqonakoula also highlighted areas for improvement, noting, “Discipline nearly cost us the game, and our kicking game needs work. We’ll address these to be stronger next week.”
The Lami mentor emphasized the bigger goal beyond just winning.
“Our main objective is to expose our boys to this level of competition. Coming from a small school with talented players, it’s important scouts see them. Winning these first two games is a bonus, but the real success would be if some of our boys get picked this year.”
Lami began their campaign with a 22-14 win over RSMS and will next face Nuku Secondary School next week in the third round of the FSSRL Southern Zone competition.
With this breakthrough win, Lami High School’s Under-17s have sent a strong message — they are here to compete and prove their mettle in the fiercely contested FSSRL competition.
