Wing Viliame Momoivalu scored a try six minutes from the time yesterday and Queen Victoria School beat Nasinu Secondary School 10-9 to retain the Deans Trophy in a blaze of glory at Ratu Cakobau Park.
Captain and first-five Isikeli Ratulevu almost kicked Nasinu to a dream victory with a penalty and two field goals but was denied in the end by Victorians guts and the will to win.
Nasinu led 6-0 before wing Poate Turuva swerved past Nasinu centre Waisea Kikau and brushed off a flimsy tackle to score the first try of the game and the champions trailed 5-6 at the breather.
Ratulevu snapped his second field goal mid-way into the second half and Nasinu led 9-5 but QVS took control of the situation in the last quarter.
The Victorians forward pack shoved the Nasinu scrums, won a tighthead and gained chunks of territory with strong straight drives led by prop Marika Karikaritu and flanker Vili Rinakama.
Nasinu was caught off-side several times as QVS went into overdrive but captain Ratu Solomone Vesikula did not go for the kick after centre Savenaca Lutumailagi missed two kickable penalties.
Instead, the first-five told his forwards to continue the hits and keep the momentum going until the Nasinu defence cracked and there as an overlap.
Fullback Waisea Koroi drew Kikau and lobbed a neat overhead pass to Momoivalu who finished off and the adrenalin level among QVS parents, students and supporters dropped.
It was almost paradise for the gallant Nasinu pack which included four members of the Marist Brothers High School U16 team in 1996 and Kikau of last years U19 team.
Nasinu had a slight height and weight advantage, but QVS balanced the equation with guts and determination.
QVS coach Filomoni Vatuvoka said he was confident even though his team was trailing 5-9 with 10 minutes left.
“I was confident something would happen because our forwards maintained their pace and we were always going forward,” Vatuvoka said.
Nasinu supporters, some who came from the West said it was worth the money spent but hard luck in the end.