LAMI High School’s under-17 rugby league team achieved a significant victory against Nasinu Secondary School, emerging triumphant with a 2-0 scoreline in the Southern Zone of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League (FSSRL) competition.
In a match marked by intense physicality, Meli Semese emerged as the key player, successfully converting a penalty in the second half to secure the crucial win for Lami High School. This victory is particularly meaningful for Lami, who have historically struggled against the dominant Nasinu team.
Team manager Poasa Soqonakoula expressed his pride in the team’s performance, emphasizing the challenges they faced. “We prepared well and knew taking on Nasinu wouldn’t be easy. They’ve been giants in this competition for a long time,” he noted. Despite the victory, Soqonakoula acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly concerning discipline and the kicking game, saying, “Discipline nearly cost us the game, and our kicking game needs work. We’ll address these to be stronger next week.”
Soqonakoula highlighted the broader goal of the team’s participation in the tournament: to provide exposure for their players. “Our main objective is to expose our boys to this level of competition. Coming from a small school with talented players, it’s important scouts see them. Winning these first two games is a bonus, but the real success would be if some of our boys get picked this year.”
Lami High School began their tournament campaign with a strong 22-14 victory over RSMS and is set to face Nuku Secondary School in the third round of the FSSRL Southern Zone competition next week.
This breakthrough win sends a powerful message from Lami High School’s Under-17 team: they are ready to compete and showcase their capabilities in what has become a fiercely competitive league. This marks a hopeful beginning for the future of the players and the school as they strive for continued success and recognition.