Lomary U19 Hopes To Create History

The Lomary Secondary School Under-19 team hopes to create history at Ratu Cakobau Park tomorrow.

Team manager Semi Tuidama said they want to be the first Lomary rugby team to reach the Vodafone Deans national quarterfinals.

In a all-Catholic secondary schools clash, the Galoa-based side takes on St Bedes College from Savusavu in the Under-19 playoffs; the winner qualifies for the national quarterfi­nals next Saturday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

St Bedes are the 2022 Northern Zone Two champs.

“The boys have been training hard. We need to improve on our defense and attacks,” Tuid­ama said.

“We will not take St Bedes lightly; they have proven themselves to be champions from the North to qualify for this playoff.

“We will prepare well on all aspects of the game.”

Tuidama added there has not been any spon­sorship for the team throughout the season. They are grateful for the support of the teach­ers and parents who have been helping raise funds to cover the team’s expenses.

“We have only lost once to Nasinu Secondary School, we will set our benchmark on that.

“There have been challenges throughout the season but we have been improvising; lifting sand bags as weights and training along the Galoa beach.”

The Lomary Under-18 girls as champions of the Southern Zone Weet-Bix Raluve competi­tion and will take on the St Bedes College girls in one of the national quarterfinals.

The Lomary schoolgirls were crowned cham­pions of the Southern Zone Secondary School Weet-Bix Raluve competition after beating Serua neighbour and Korovisilou-based Ratu Latianara College 20-5 in the final at the Suva Grammar School ground last Saturday.

For their win the Lomary U18 women play­ers were the inaugural Vosailagi shield win­ners; the shield was presented to them by the former acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu soon after the final against RLC.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj