Powerade Super Deans: Who will it be?

Listen to this article:

Cuvu College captain Charles Nakavulevu, left, with his Ratu Kadavulevu School counterpart Viliame Sokiveta. The two captains will face off at the Powerade Super Deans U18 final today. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4pm. Picture: ATU RASEA

IN battle, great men stand up and stand out, only the brave survive and it is their actions that will inspire others.

They ignite the fire that inspire an army, they are warriors who will battle until their last breath.

The ANZ Stadium will be a battlefield and will host the finals of the Powerade Super Deans Rugby Championship with more fans expected to witness the finals today.

In this week’s final we will see these warriors run out on to the Laucala Bay rugby paddock in their famous school colours with nothing else in their mind, but victory as their ultimate goal.

It is the battle of supremacy, the Holy Grail of secondary schools rugby at stake, each gladiator will be given the opportunity to carve their names in the annals of history.

But who will stand up and stand out, who will fight until the last breath, only time will tell when the final hooter sounds at the end of the 79th anniversary of the Deans competition today.

Indeed the much anticipated game is the final of the under-18 side between Cuvu College and Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Cuvu College is making its first final appearance and a side RKS should be wary of.

The side possesses this fighting spirit and never say die attitude.

They fight and fight gallantly. They do with so much pride and heart until the final whistle.

This was evident in Cuvu’s famous 12-10 win over Marist Brothers High School last weekend.

Playmaker Apakuki Raivoka is a man to look out for, he runs his back line and dictates their play, he is their general and master tactician with halfback Suliasi Kurulo on his side, they form a deadly combination.

It’s just like watching a young Emosi Vucago and Jiuta Lutumailagi or the Napolioni Vitau and the general Jonetani Waqa during their glory days in the Nadroga colours.

The Cuvu College forward pack is spearheaded by hardworking flanker Jokini Drenimolea who scored the match-winner last Saturday.

Cuvu College is a force to be reckoned with and worthy finalist in this year’s final.

Cuvu College travels to Suva this weekend with a lot to play for.

For a long time the Nadroga Rugby Union cabinet is empty — after losing the Skipper Cup and HFC Farebrother Challenge trophy to Suva and their failed attempt to challenge Naitasiri last week.

The Sigatoka-based school now carries the hopes of not only the Nadroga/ Navosa provinces but the western side as a whole. They now hope to become the second school in the history to take Deans trophy to the western side.

On the other side, a mammoth task for Cuvu is to go against a team that has been the topic of discussion in many conversations around the tanoa. The Ratu Kadavulevu School U18 side is like a well-oiled machine.

They are a complete package since the rugby season started this year. They have been trouncing, pounding and steamrolling past all their opponents.

Under the watchful eyes of former national rep Nacanieli Saumi, RKS is laced with mobile forward pack, combining well with a back line that has so much speed, agility and flair.

Halfback Jone Vatuwaliwali is their kingpin. He is a national rep in the making.

He has visions, he has skills, he has amazing footworks and a strong passing game with hardworking number eight Alivereti Loaloa and flyhalf Sireli Maqala, they form a deadly combination.

Flying winger Osea Natoga scored a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Ratu Navula College and he will be a marked man during the game.

Playing in the final of the Deans competition is not new for RKS, with 21 wins and five draws, under their name, the side marches into the game today with the aim of back to back win to defend the title again.

In fact, their last back to back title was more than twenty years ago when they hoisted the prestigious silverware for three years in from 1990 1991 and 1992.

This year marks the 79th anniversary of the Deans competition.

Which school will keep the trophy in its cabinet before the Rugby Jubilee next year, only time will tell when the dust settles today at the ANZ Stadium in Laucala Bay, Suva.

Today’s fixtures:
Under-14: QVS vs RKS U15: LMS vs RKS, U16: QVS vs RKS, U17: QVS vs LMS, U18: Cuvu College vs RKS, U19: LMS vs RKS

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 29
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category