History of PNG's Semi-professional Rugby Leauge
In appreciation of our beloved game here is a little history of the SP CUP, later known as the Bemobile Cup and now the Digicel Cup………Please add comments where necessary and make corrections where I am wrong.
The SP Cup has made many provincial heroes some have come and gone while others are still around. Many teams have had their share of fame and glory since the inception of the SP Cup competition (former SP inter-city competition).
In the first grandfinal in 1990, Port Moresby Vipers thrashed Mt Hagen Eagles 26-6. In the following year in 1991, both teams met again and drew 18-all at fulltime but Vipers were declared the winners after extra time, having scored four tries to three. The two team clashed the third time in 1992 with the Moresby boys claiming victory three years in a row by thrashing the Eagles 31-10.
Goroka Lahanis eventually dethroned the three-time champions 20-12 in 1993. But they came back in 1994 for sweet revenge when they dumped Lahanis 20-12 for the top spot. The following year (1995) brought in new contenders for the prestigious cup, Lae Bombers and Mendi Muruks. It was a thriller but in the end, Bombers edged out Muruks 19-18.
The 1996 competition saw the return of a much stronger Mendi Muruks, who beat Kundiawa Warriors 22-9, the match however was abandoned in the 63th minute. In 1997, Eagles made their fourth grandfinal appearance when they defeated Lae Bombers 29-10. They went on to take out the title the next year with 24-18 win over Mendi Muruks. In 1999, Goroka Lahanis were crowned champions after thrashing Rabaul Gurias 26-0. Rabaul Gurias experienced their second assault going down, 16-22 to Enga Mioks in 2000.
The SP Cup has made many provincial heroes some have come and gone while others are still around. Many teams have had their share of fame and glory since the inception of the SP Cup competition (former SP inter-city competition).
In the first grandfinal in 1990, Port Moresby Vipers thrashed Mt Hagen Eagles 26-6. In the following year in 1991, both teams met again and drew 18-all at fulltime but Vipers were declared the winners after extra time, having scored four tries to three. The two team clashed the third time in 1992 with the Moresby boys claiming victory three years in a row by thrashing the Eagles 31-10.
Goroka Lahanis eventually dethroned the three-time champions 20-12 in 1993. But they came back in 1994 for sweet revenge when they dumped Lahanis 20-12 for the top spot. The following year (1995) brought in new contenders for the prestigious cup, Lae Bombers and Mendi Muruks. It was a thriller but in the end, Bombers edged out Muruks 19-18.
The 1996 competition saw the return of a much stronger Mendi Muruks, who beat Kundiawa Warriors 22-9, the match however was abandoned in the 63th minute. In 1997, Eagles made their fourth grandfinal appearance when they defeated Lae Bombers 29-10. They went on to take out the title the next year with 24-18 win over Mendi Muruks. In 1999, Goroka Lahanis were crowned champions after thrashing Rabaul Gurias 26-0. Rabaul Gurias experienced their second assault going down, 16-22 to Enga Mioks in 2000.
