Nasinu crowned Under-19 champs

Inspirational words from Nasinu Secondary School Under-19 rugby league captain Ponipate Komai inspired his side to a 10-8 win over Ratu Kadavulevu School Eels in the grand final at the ANZ Stadium, Suva, yesterday.

Komai demanded the best from his players and urged them that this is best time to win the Fiji Secondary Schools rugby league title and set an example for their junior teams. “I told the boys that we had to create our own legacy,” he said.

Ovcr the past years, the Panthers have produced top players like Marika Koroibete, Virimi Vakatawa, Setareki Tawake and Sakeo Raloa.

What happened: The Panthers started strongly and pressured the Eels into mistakes. It took time for the Eels to settle down.

Panthers took a 4-0 lead when their winger Josaia Naoba finished off a backline move with the conversion from Tevita Lutumailagi going wide. In the 30th minute the Eels started to use their bigger forwards to lead the charge as they camped close to the Panthers tryline.

In the 33rd minute Eels first five eight Iosefo Salele displayed neat footwork to slice through a gap, broke a tackle from Sakiusa Tuivanualevu and score a brilliant try.

The conversion went wide.

Halftime: Panthers 4-4 Eels.

The Panthers began to utilise their sets well and this frustrated the Eels. Indiscipline by the Eels saw Panthers capitialised on a penalty which was converted by Mosese Volavola. With the 6-4 lead, the Panthers continued on the momentum with their forwards led by the Gaunavinaka twins as they stayed close to the Eels tryline.

In a forward rush, Epineri Ragiagia drove over to score their second try with Volavola landing the conversion to extend the lead 12-4.

The Eels never gave up and fought back with winger Clement Garnett driving over to score a try with the conversion missing.

Turning point: When the Panthers began to use their sets well and this saw the Eels backpedalling.

The momentum continued on resulting in Ragiagia’s try.