The Saint Bedes College Under-19 rugby side is working on improving their set piece before Saturday’s Vodafone Deans Trophy national quarterfinal clash against Ratu Kadavulevu School at Suva’s Bidesi Park.

The Savusavu-based school beat Lomary Secondary School 14-10 at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, last Saturday, to qualify for the nationals.

St Bedes coach Josefa Tuiqawa commended his players on their tireless effort in maintaining their dominance throughout the encounter.

“The players communicated well and that was a key aspect of our win,” he said.

Tuiqawa said there are areas they would work on in order to do the impossible against RKS and move on to the semifinal.

“We’re working on our defence and scrum because that were areas of concern against Lomary,”he said.

“We’ll also need to improve on our discipline because we received two yellow cards and we can’t do that against RKS.”

Tuiqawa said for them to travel from Vanua Levu was made possible by the support of the school, parents and old scholars.

“We struggled as a team to come over. Also, now that we are still in the running we’re facing a lot of challenges of staying in Suva, since the costs of things are high.

We’re quite fortunate to the tremendous support of the old scholars and parents. Without them our morale would’ve been low.

This isn’t the first time for St Bedes to make it to the national quarterfinals. We’ve done it in 2017, 2018 and 2019.”

Tuiqawa said they want to be competitive and push the renowned rugby schools in the country to the limit.

“Over the years, St Bedes has produced talented players, who have gone on to represent the

Flying Fijians and the Fijian men’s sevens teams. We’ll not let anyone stop us from achieving more in the competition, that’s for sure.”

Flying Fijians first choice halfback Frank Lomani, national sevens training squad members, Ioane Teba, Ioane Raturaciri, Daniele Yaya and Manueli Maisamoa are former students of the school.

VODAFONE DEANS QUARTERFINALS

FIXTURES ON SATURDAY 24/9

HFC Bank Stadium:

8:40am: Under -17: Marist Brothers High School v Lelean Memorial School

10am: Under- 18: Ba Provincial Freebird Institute v Nasinu Secondary School

11:20am: Under- 18: Natabua High School v Queen Victoria School

12.50pm: Under-18 Suva Grammar School v Lelean Memorial School

3:30pm: Under-18: Ratu Kadavulevu School v Marist Brothers High School

Bidesi Park:

8:40am: Under 15: Natabua High School v Nasinu Secondary School

9:30am: Under-16: Ratu Kadavulevu School v Ratu Navula College

10:40am: Under 19: Ratu Navula College v Queen Victoria School

12:05pm: Under 19: Ra High School v Nasinu Secondary School

1:30pm: Under 19: Ratu Kadavulevu School v St Bedes College

Buckhurst Park:

8:40am: Under 15: Ratu Kadavulevu School v Suva Grammar School

9:30am: Under-16: Suva Grammar School v Lelean Memorial School

10:40am: Under 16: Cuvu College v Marist Brothers High School

12:05pm: Under 17: Suva Grammar School v Sigatoka

1:30pm: Under 19: Naitasiri Secondary School v Lelean Memorial School

Suva Grammar School ground:

8:40am: Under 15: Queen Victoria School v Ra High School

9:30am: Under-15: Lelean Memorial School v Marist Brothers High School

10:40am: Under 16: Queen Victoria School v Nasinu Secondary School

12:05pm: Under 17: Queen Victoria School v Nasinu Secondary School

1:30pm: Under 17: Ratu Kadavulevu School v Natabua High School

Story By: jone.salulsau@fijisun.com.fj