From Raluve to League

The Ratu Latianara College Open grade girls team made their debut at the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League competition in Suva last Saturday.

They scored a 20-14 upset win over Naitasiri Secondary School at St Marcellin School grounds in Vatuwaqa, Suva.

Head coach Seru Kuruiyalavou acknowledged her player’s efforts against their more experienced opponents.

“Majority of the players were part of the Under-16 team that won the Raluve competition last year,” he told SUNsports.

“We were planning for the off-season towards the Raluve competition, which is next term.”

Kuruiyalavou added that the team is utilising the rugby league competition to prepare for next term’s rugby union competition.

“It’s just to get them fi t and hopefully we’ll be ready in term two for rugby union,” he said.

“The team believes that 90 per cent of the work is done through training.

“What we showed on the fi eld is 10 per cent so whatever we showed is nothing new as its been rehearsed and practiced from school.”

Kuruiyalavou said his team would also lift their fitness and skill level.

“We need to understand the game of rugby league as its more different from rugby union,” he said.

“We used sport as a tool to teach them discipline and develop every aspect of their life.”

Kuruiyalavou said as a rural school they lack proper training equipment and often face financial struggles.

“The parents are fundraising on Friday, with proceeds to cater for the bandages, meals and transportation.”

Kuruiyalavou dedicated their de-but win to all the parents and ex-scholars of the school.

Southern Eastern Zone results U19- Bati Challenge: RKS (Ratu Kadavulevu School) 40- 0 RSMS (Ratu Sukuna Memorial School);

Tanoa Challenge: Naitasiri Sec-ondary School 16-7 Namosi Sec-ondary School; QVS (Queen Victoria School) 34-4 Levuka Public School

Open Grade Girls: Ratu Latian-ara 20-4 Naitasiri Secondary School; Namosi Secondary School 20-12 Lo-maivuna Secondary School

U17- CMF College (Christian Mission Fellowship) 14-12 St Vincent College; Naiyala High School 20-10 John Wes-ley College (JWC); Naitasiri Second-ary School 8-4 RSMS

U15- Rewa Secondary School 10-4 JWC; Sila Central High School 8-8 Lo-maivuna High School; St John College 10-0 RSMS; AOG (Assemblies of God) 28-10 Naiyala High School.