Lelean Memorial School captain Luke Daunitutu says years of hard work and growing together as a team have paid off after the side defeated Marist Brothers High School 26-7 in the Eastern Zone Deans under-18 elimination round to qualify for the Deans National Championship.
Daunitutu, who hails from Naila, Bua in Tailevu and has maternal links to Delaidamanu, Naitasiri, said the team’s success was built on understanding one another and playing as brothers.
“It’s been a lot of teaching, but we made it a priority to get to know each other, understand each other’s style of play and keep helping one another as brothers,” he said.
The Lelean skipper said the victory was especially meaningful because many of the players have been together since their early secondary school years.
“This win is very special for the boys because we started from nothing in the U14 grade, and now we’ve made it all the way here,” he said. Lelean produced a composed performance against Marist Brothers High School scoring four tries to one to seal the 26-7 victory and book their place in the national competition.
The win marks another important chapter for the side, whose core group has progressed together through the age grades.
With the Eastern Zone challenge now behind them, Daunitutu and his teammates will shift their focus to the Deans National Championship, where they hope to continue their impressive run and prove they can compete with the country’s best schoolboy rugby teams.
The Davuilevu side will now be aiming to win its first Deans U18 national title since 2014, when Lelean defeated Ratu Kadavulevu School 13-8 in the final.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Zone elimination round also produced several decisive results across the other grades.
Defending champions Ratu Kadavulevu School secured their place in the U18 Deans National Championship with a commanding 43-14 victory over Ratu Sukuna Memorial School. In the U17 play-off, Lelean Memorial School overwhelmed Nabala Secondary School 44-5, while In the U15 play-off Queen Victoria School secured their victory over Holy Family Secondary School 44-0 to also advance to the national championship.
