THE struggling Gulf Isapea have appealed to all stakeholders of the game to
ensure transparency and accountability in staging of the prestigious Digicel Cup rugby league competition Isapea chairman Jacob Ivaroa, pictured, claimed that the Isapea were cheated out of victory in last Sunday’s match against the Mt Hagen Eagles. Ivaroa claimed the Isapea had won the game 12-10 after 80 minutes but the time-keeper allowed the game to go on for an extra 10 minutes which saw the homeside score a 14-12 win. “I am disgusted that people are doing everything under the sun to spoil the game,” a disappointed chairman said. Ivaroa said his franchise had been the victim of alleged foul-play by officials – refereeing, and now the time-keeping. “Its not a fair contest.” The Gulf team has no home games this season because of the unavailability of a ground in Port Moresby. Ivaroa said he had registered a complaint with Digicel Cup chief executive officer Hubert Warupi and the chairman of judiciary committee David Silovo. Isapea management protested to Silovo who also witnessed the incident. Ivaroa also alleged other instances of foul-play on his players that was apparently ignored by the referee. Ivaroa said the competition was losing its credibility and professionalism with these types of incidents happening regularly. THE National Sport Institute (NSI) in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, will host the
remaining Digicel Cup home games for the Goroka Lahanis. The agreement was reached after a reconciliation meeting between the franchise owner Simon Sia and NSI director Edris Kumbruwah. PNGNRL judiciary board had earlier banned Lahanis from hosting matches at the NSI because of spectator violence after Kumbruwah, pictured, raised concerns. PNGNRL general manager, Hubert Warupi said that the decision by the PNGNRL to place the suspension on the Lahanis was due to the franchise owner Simon Sia who took it upon himself and made the recommendation to the PNGNRL to consider stopping games at the NSI due to the rowdy crowd behaviour in round five. “The franchise owner said he felt that the crowd’s behaviour unacceptable to sponsors and stakeholders,” Warupi said. However, with the recent meet between Sia and Kumbruwah, Lahanis will now host its remaining home games at the NSI oval starting with the Mt Hagen Eagles in Sunday’s crossover match. Lahanis are second last on the ladder with nine points behind Eagles on 10. This should be an interesting test for the Lahanis as they try to sneak into the top eight with just three more games remaining after this weekend. The other games this weekend will be a double-header in Lae between competition leader, Lae Tigers and Port Moresby Vipers while the Enga Mioks face the Mendi Muruks. In Kokopo, the Hela Wigmen face take on the Agmark Gurias while the Simbu Lions host the Gulf Isapea at the Dickson Oval in Kundiawa this Sunday. Standings: Tigers 23, Wigmen 18, Gurias 16, Vipers 14, Muruks 14, Mioks 14, Lions 12, Eagles 10, Lahanis 9, Isapea 6. LONG-SUFFERING Gulf Isapea fans finally got the win they had waited nine weeks
for when their side beat the Enga Mioks 16-14 on Sunday at the Lae Rugby League ground. The hard-fought victory was soaked up by team management, officials and players as the full time siren sounded. For coach Bobby Ako after eight consecutive losses, winning a match was their only goal for his luckless charges as they started the second round of competition in Pool 2. Both teams scored three tries each with both opposing outside centres grabbing a brace each and one conversion each however it was a penalty goal by the Isapeas that made the difference. It was a tough match however the Mioks pack were somewhat subdued in their approach. Mioks right winger Wawa Paul dived over for their first try of match. Isapea centre Jojo Forova, pictured, kicked a penalty to halve the deficit. The match ebbed and flowed as both sides fought to control the ruck. It was the two opposing players in jersey number three who played out of their skins. Gulf’s Ricky Sibia ran in the visitors’ second unconverted try only for Mioks Toby Kopi responding in similar fashion, beating defenders to score on the opposite end. Mioks halfback Willie Guambo managed to convert Kopi’s try levelling the scores at 10-10 with 20 minutes to go. After a quick set which saw the Isapea quickly putting the ball through the hands until it ended up in Sibiya’s who out-paced a tiring Mioks defence to score his second which was converted by Forova 16-10 lead. Kopi got his name on the scorebook again stepping his way through to bag his second try which Guambo failed to convert in his last but most important attempt to see Mioks trail on 14 points in the dying minutes of the match. The best of the day for the winners were Sibiya who was named man of the match, fullback George Kose, lock Joshua Thomas and bench forward Andrew Luke Jr. Isapeas return to Lae in the final pool match as part of a double header next Sunday. The Gulf will face their stiffest challenge yet when they take on competition leaders Lae Tigers. A win over the Tigers, who beat the Gurias on Sunday in Kokopo, in Lae will show the Isapea are genuine contenders in Pool 2. THE Digiciel Cup match between the Mendi Muruks and Hela Wigmen in Mendi
on Sunday was marred by violence two minutes before the fulltime, a senior state minister said. Minister for Works and Implementation and member for Imbongu Francis Awesa, said from Mendi that the Muruks were leading 19-14 in an entertaining game when violence marred the ending with two minutes remaining on the clock. A supporter of the Wigmen and businessman Steven Temo, who ran into the field and assaulted the referee. He said it was a sad day for Mendi rugby league to see a leader who contested in the national elections and a local businessman resorting to violence in front of the huge crowd including the resident National Court Judge Kassman who was the guest of honour and officially kicked off the game. Awesa said the actions of Temo, who is also the Mendi town manager, was unacceptable when he stormed into the field and assaulted the referee. “This is childish and unbecoming of a young leader and businessman. It is a criminal act and he should be arrested for inciting violence and assaulting the referee,” Awesa said. “A leader should not be one who leads with bad example like assaulting people. “The actions of the so-called leader should not be tolerated and police should arrest him and charge him as he had no respect for the general public and even the National Court Judge who was there to watch the game during his free time.” Sources in Mendi stated that the town manager and another supporter of the Mendi Muruks wagered a Toyota landcruiser on the result. Temo flew into a rage when it was apparent his side would lose and entered the field of play in the last two minutes of the match. The sources also stated that several other die hard supporters placed bets on their teams with huge sums of money after interest generated from the last time the tow side met. Awesa, who saw the game also called on the management of Digicel Cup games to take action. “I call on the police to arrest him and charge him and I also call on the management of the game to bar him from any future games. “He is not a leader and did not act like a leader who contested the election twice. “He acted like a child and brought disrepute to a game that should have ended peacefully and to the Mendi rugby league,” Awesa said. No other incidents were reported apart from the assualt on the referee. The PNG National Rugby League have yet to release a statement on the result of the match and snaction for on Temo. The National THE Port Moresby Vipers thumped the Simbu Lions 30-4 at the Dicksons Oval in
Kundiawa yesterday. The Vipers victory in the Lions’ den evoked calls from prominent former rugby league icons in the likes of former Highlands Zone five-eighth and Warriors coach Steven Gore Kaupa, former Warriors trainer John Wamil Gul and former Kumul Maima Kawagle for a complete overhaul of the management of TNA-sponsored Lions. Former Warriors five-eighth Lucas Kee called for immediate sacking of the current Lions management and allow former players to run the team. Lions were the first to cross over through winger Chris Kool for an unconverted try for the host while the city boys ran in five tries in a classy display. Vipers fullback Josiah Abavu opened the scoring for the visitors towards the end of the first half which Stanley Torato converted for a 6-4 lead at the break. The second half was an all Vipers affair backrower Richard Kambao carrying several Lions defenders over the line for an unconverted try. Vipers centre Nicko Dom made the home side’s defence look ordinary and set up winger Stargoth Amean for another unconverted to stretch the lead to 14-4. Dom added his name to the score sheet minutes later and this time Torato nailed the conversion to lead 18-4. Felix Kawage and Bland Abavu, completed the rout with tries to send the Kundiawa crowd home disappointed. Lions tried hard through Joel Ambrose, Kool, Gordon Isaac, Gilbert Isaac, Rex David and Ma, Esau, but really had no answer for Vipers’ class. Vipers coach Leonard Tarum commended his players for their discipline and following the game plan. He credited senior players Elijah Riyong, Nicko Dom and Lawerence Kuso Jr for their efforts. The win sees the capital city franchise work their way to third in Pool 1 after a slow start to the Digicel Cup season. That is the tough stance taken by the PNG National Rugby League (PNGNRL) board to safeguard the interests of the nationwide premier competition and its players.
The drawing of top players from the Digicel Cup is deemed to be depleting their stocks to run a viable competition. The PNGNRL, which runs the Digicel Cup is an independent body, self-financed and managed solely by the franchises and business houses appointed board and management. Board chairman Sudhir Guru yesterday made it clear to PNG rugby league followers nationwide and abroad that until the sports governing body defines clearly where the PNGNRL fits in their structure, there would be no player movement both ways. “On top of that the PNGNRL wants to know issues like what resources will the PNGRFL provide and what do they take, infrastructures, referee’s and players…there must be a very defined role as to where we stand if we are to come under one umbrella,” Guru said. “We have not placed sanctions, we agreed for the Hunters initially to take 25 to 30 players and they did that anyway without any notification.” “You are either a Hunter or a Digicel Cup player,” Guru maintained. Guru said the board believed it was not in the best interests of promoting those new players that have filled in the gaps for those Hunters players and those new ones that have broken through because of the void, by allowing Hunters players back to play for their clubs. “Until such time where there are over 100 Hunters players on their roster, then the status quo will remain until an amicable solution is agreed upon between all parties concerned.” Guru said at this stage there was no clear demarcation set by the PNGRFL as to the Digicel Cup being used to draw its players from. “Don’t get us wrong, we support the PNGRFL and its new way forward under board chairman Sandis Tsaka, but we are a self-funded entity with business interests that have played a caretaker role for the inter-city competition for the past 20 years.” Guru said that it was not the board’s view to be seen as creating a bottle-neck for the rugby league pathway, we just want to ensure there are proper guidelines set and for that to happen the PNGRFL has already been tasked to offer a solution. Guru confirmed that they had had recent talks with Tsaka and basically told the PNGRFL to define the relationship as the franchises and business houses that hold up the Digicel Cup spend in the region of K20 million a year on running the competition. He said they had suggested that a workshop be staged where all parties can share ideas with the aim of working together. When queried on the issue, Tsaka said they do respect the PNGNRL board’s issues with regards to the loss of marquee players based on the belief that they need to run a quality competition to maintain a high standard. “We understand the predicament and are working to address it,” Tsaka said. Tsaka said the issue was a major concern for the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored Hunters who do not have an under-20 competition or junior programme and no feeder clubs like other teams in the Queensland Cup competition. He confirmed that they hope to resolve the issue as soon as possiblewith the aim to strengthen the working relationship between the PNGRFL and PNGNRL. MOUNT Hagen Eagles edged the Simbu Lions 13-12 yesterday in round four of the Digicel Cup.
The game drew a packed crowd, including Chimbu Governor Noah Kool, at the Rebiamul oval in Hagen. Eagles Junior Rau was awarded the man-of-the-match after he scored three tries. Eagles hooker Mosley Tika managed to slot the winning field goal in the dying miutes of the game to get his side a close but deserved win after the scores were locked at 12-12 in the 75th minute. The Lions’ tries came from Enoch Sine and Samuel Mom. Lions Mal Essena, Sine, Dilbert Isaac and Joseph Wesley were the stand outs for the visitors. But the Eagles powerful forward pack led by Bryan Noki, Francis Pengti and Tika worked hard. Police and youths from the surrounding communities have been providing security at the ground. In this week’s Pool 1 matches the Lions host the Vipers in Kundiawa, while the Eagles play the Wigmen in Hagen. The Muruks are on the bye. In Pool 2, the Isapea face the Tigers in Lae and the Lahanis host the Mioks in Goroka. The Gurias have the bye. Muruks show improvement to down Wigmen 20-12 and claim K25, 000 and the Brother in Arms Shield in Mendi derby.
The first half was a tight game as both teams scored two tries apiece, one to Nathan Berry and Isaac Mel with the PRK sponsored team missing one conversion from two attempts by fullback Joe Joshua. Wigmen missed both conversions for their tries of which George Moni had one, but managed a penalty before halftime for both team to go 10-all into the sheds. In the second half, the Kemele construction sponsored team got a penalty to lead early at 12-10 but that was all for the day as the Muruks responded with two tries to Stanley Olo and youngster Joshua to have the scores at 18-10 for the Muruks. Joshua later added a penalty for the Muruks to seal the match. Ruing gave credit to Stanley Olo who fed off well from the hooker position while Ape Nande and Issac Mel gained grounds for halfback Joshua Molsie and centre Samuel Samson that added up to a match winning performance. “I am happy with the boy’s performance but there is still a lot of work to be done on our defensive plays and completion rates.” Ruing said. Ruing said few of his players copped minor injuries with Olo carrying a suspected nose injury just on the dying minutes of the match. Ruing said compared to the previous games in Kundiawa and Hagen, the boys played better over the weekend and as the rounds continue he hopes to improve their performance. THE Lae Tigers handed the Agmark Gurias their second loss in a row at the Lae Rugby League Ground yesterday.
The Tigers’ 14-6 triumph saw the Morobe franchise stay on top of the Pool 2 ladder on eight points. The fourth round Digicel Cup rugby league double header also saw the Enga Mioks register a 10-6 win over the improving Gulf Isapeas in the earlier match. The Lae rugby league ground, despite chaos at the main gate by spectators crowding to get in, was packed to capacity and was attended by Morobe Governor Kelly Naru, Gulf Governor Havila Kavo and Enga Governor Peter Ipatas. The main match was a wet and slipperyaffair. The Tigers managed to get off the right foot when centre Pasu Awani scored an unconverted try. The home sidewere in again when halfback Ate Bina Wabo charged down a clearing kick collect a favourable bounce to run in Lae’s second four-pointer. His successful conversion had the Tigers 10-0 in front. The Gurias’ class came to the fore in their response when winger Chris Jerry got the Kokopo-based franchises on the board while backrower Danny Patrick added the extras for the visitors to rail 10-6. The heavens opened up in the second half and made open play almost impossible. Points would be at a premium and Tigers winger Justin Olam took his chance when he beat several Gurias to score the match-winner which Wabo failed to convert. Gurias’ centre Mathew Puke was put on report by referee Ben Kaupa for a shoulder charge on Mogi Wei Junior, while Tigers lock Ishmael Balkawa was cited for a late charge on a tackled opponent. Awani become the third player to be placed on report for an elbow to an opponent’s head. In the day’s first match, the Isapea started off strongly but handling errors and a fast finishing Mioks side ensured the Crocs stayed winless after four rounds. Mioks scored the only points of the first 40 minutes through five-eighth Charlie Simon. The Isapea rallied on numerous occasions and pushed into the Mioks defence time and again but ill-discipline saw them give 11 penalties away in the first half. The second half was both scrappy and foul infested. Referee Michael Kelepe put Isapea Livai Naivogo on report for a shoulder charge. He sin-binned Miok centre Toby Kopi and Isapea captain and five-eighth Joshua Thomas and put Simon on report for kneeing an opponent.Mioks reserve Ryan Kiso scored an unconverted try before Isapea winger Tope Mitaharo sprinted 85-metres to score the Gulf side’s only points in the last quarter. The try was converted by Netava Rarokoliwa. Mioks fullback Michael Gawi was named man-of-the-match and was awarded K200 by Governor Kelly Naru. Naru then gave K300 to the Isapea and K1000 to the Mioks for winning. The win sees the Mioks take second spot in Pool 2 ahead of the Gurias, who seem to have fizzled out after a two big wins in the opening rounds. Results: Pool 1 – Muruks 20 Wigmen 12, Eagles 13 Lions 12. Bye: Vipers; Pool 2 – Tigers 14 Gurias 6, Mioks 10 Isapea 6. Bye: Lahanis Match summary: Mioks 10 (C.Simon, R. Kiso tries C.Simon 1 con) Isapeas 6 (T.Mitaharo try, N. Rarokoliva 1 con) Tigers 14 (P. Awena, C. Wabo, J. Olam tries C. Wabo 1 con ) Gurias 6 (C. Jerry try, D. Patrick 1 con). A K25,000 prize money and shield is up for grabs as the Hela Wigmen host the Mendi Muruks this Sunday at the Joseph Keviame Oval.
The Heli Solutions sponsored “Brothers in Arms” shield and cash prize will be given to the winner of what is expected to be a big showdown for supporters to flock into Mendi for the fourth round of the Digicel Cup in the north-east pool. Hela Wigmen board chairman, Andy Hetra said that they will face a Muruks side brimming with young talent that can be dangerous if given leeway. “Muruks are a quality side with young talents and we have a lot of respect for them. They can cause havoc if they at their best and the Wigmen are wary of that. “Wigmen are coming back from a bye last week. The bye was good for recuperation. “Preparation has been excellant this week. It has been a good start to the season with two wins but all are in working progress,” Hetra said. The Kemele construction sponsored side will be relying on evergreen Joseph Omai to lead the forward pack with former Kumul George Moni who has been impressive coming back from a long injury layoff. Charlie Wabo will be steering the ruck with Kewa Kili and young William Mone calling the shots at half. Muruks coach Ruben Ruing said the Wigmen have experience on their side but has faith in his young charges. “Most of our players are made up of young men in their early teens. We will be going up against seasoned players in Wabo, Moni and Kili but I have faith in my boys. “We will be sticking to our same game plan except for a few minor changes to the team,” Ruing said. The PRK sponsored side will be looking to experienced players in forwards Isaac Mel and Werr Mark to steer the side. Muruks Team: 1. Joe Joshua, 2. Nathan Berry, 3. Samuel Samson, 4. Wesley Benny, 5. Joey Ambrose, 6. Danny Son, 7.Josuah Molsie (c), 8. Werr Mark (vc), Stanley Olo, 10. Nelson Rami, 11. Issac Mel, 12. Ape Made, 13. Oddias Kengi. Res: 14. Josiah Keviame, 15. Samson Otmar, 16. Allen Anton, 17. Cedrick Ero, 18. Vincent Kink. Coach: Ruben Ruing, Trainer: Seth Mulu. |
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