Despite being the defending champions of the Weet-Bix Raluve U18 competition, Natabua High School faced major hurdles this season as they worked to rebuild their squad and fight their way into the national semi finals.
Team manager Rigieta Radrodro says one of the key challenges was that 80 percent of last year’s championship-winning team had either graduated or moved to other schools.
Radrodro says this year’s team is made up mostly of new players, with only a few returning from last season.
Natabua defied the odds, defeating Adi Cakobau School 12-7 in a hard-fought quarter final last two weeks to book their spot in this week’s semi finals.
Radrodro credited the team’s unity, preparation, and determination for their success, saying the new players rose to the occasion and lived up to expectations.
In the Raluve semi finals, Jasper Williams High School will meet Muaniweni College at 1.30pm at Buckhurst Park while Natabua will face Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School at 2.20pm at the HFC Bank Stadium.
In the Vodafone Super Deans U18 semi finals at the HFC Bank Stadium, Natabua High School will take on Nasinu Secondary School at 3.30pm and Suva Grammar School will take on Ratu Kadavulevu School at 5pm.
The Deans and Raluve semi finals will be played at the HFC Bank Stadium, Buckhurst Park, and Bidesi ground this Saturday.
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