Suva Grammar School Under-18 burly blindside flanker Mataiasi Tuiisireli and centre Isaac Rabaka starred in their 30-26 win over Natabua High School in the Vodafone Deans Trophy semi-final at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, this afternoon.

Tuiisireli scored a hat-trick of tries and was the enforcer with his punishing tackles and strong carries.

Rabaka made six turnovers at crucial moments of the match to keep Natabua High School at bay. It was the classy centre’s try save tackle on Natabua winger in the dying moments of the game that saved the day for Grammar.

Another area of concern for Grammar is that they don’t have good goal kicker as their six tries were not converted.
Grammar U18 team manager Bulou Vola Wainiqolo said, they had to fight hard against a strong Natabua team.
“Hats off to the boys for their patience during the game, Natabua took the lead but they fought hard to catch- up,” she said.
“Now we shift our focus to next week and we will return to the drawing board on Monday where will work on our mistakes.
“There are a lot of areas that we will need to work on and the boys have a understanding about that.
“We are happy to get the win but we will have to regroup for next week.”

Natabua High School’s Nemani Volitiviti runaway try and the conversion gave them a 7-0 lead.

Grammar replied with a try to blindside flanker Tuiisireli and conversion going wide as they trailed 7-5.
Grammar kept on the momentum with halfback Philip Baselala dictating play and slick backline

movement saw full-back Sairusi Masi score on the corner with the conversion going wide as they led 10-7 for the first time. Natabua full-back Apenisa Qarita copped a yellow card for dangerous trackle.

The Grammar forwards lost the ball on the Natabua High School tryline and it was spun outwide to winger Rusiate Bainivalu who ran 75 metres to score and the conversion from Volitiviti made it 12-7.

Natabua High kept the pressure and a break from second five eight Sireli Tuiteci saw him over the tryline before passing it to Rupeni Caucau to score to extend their lead to 19-10.

Grammar regrouped and came back with prop Caleb Levaci scoring a try at the corner as they trailed 19-15 at halftime.

It was all Grammar at start of the second half with Tuiisireli scoring his second try, which was not converted as they regained the lead 20-19.
Natabua High School went to sleep as Grammar scored two quick tries to second five eight Victor Sigavou and Tuiisreli his third for the day.

Leading 30-19 Natabua High School woke up and came back with a try to lock Pasikali Naevo and the conversion from Volitiviti made it 30-26.

Story By: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj