Life member in bowls
VETERAN bowler Albert Barakeina is racking up the years in life. The kilometres he has logged on the bowling green as a greenhorn attending the Bulolo Forestry College up until last week with more to follow, have earned him a gong. The 60-year-old is now life member of the Bulolo Bowling club. That honour was bestowed on him last Sunday during the national pairs championships. PNG Bowls Federation chief Pelik Sapul, officiated and handed Barakeina his life membership, commending him for achieving the sports’ highest award. Barakeina was lost for words and in tears when called on to receive his award. “I’m deeply honoured,” he told an emotional crowd that included the Bulolo Bowls Club and PNG Bowls Federation fraternity. His words echoed yonder, from the point where he first learn

Getting numbers right
ORGANISERS of Port Moresby Corporate Touch competition will be restricting the number of companies taking part to 26 instead of the proposed 20. This is due to the overwhelming interest the companies have showed in the competition. It will be the same as last year’s competition with a total of 98 teams playing in four different divisions; the Open Men’s, Open Women’s, Open Mix, and the Masters. Despite earlier attempts to axe the number of companies to only 20 from last year’s 26, 24 companies had registered by the deadline date. The proposed reduction in the number of companies was due to the unavailability of facilities including the sporting venue to host the games. On a lower note it was a push to the make room for more efficient coordination for the organizers who all have fulltime jobs.

United displace Raukele
SNS United is in a close tussle with Raukele to take the minor premiers tag for the 07/08 season in the Port Moresby A grade cricket competition. With only three points separating the two top teams at the head of the competition ladder every win is practically gold and both teams can ill afford a poor showing in the remaining three rounds of the comp. And Saturday’s top of the table clash at Colts oval was the acid test for the two contenders. United walked away six wicket victors and one step closer to the minor premiership. Raukele had first bat and in keeping with their rocky form of late managed to reach 202 by the 45th over. Thanks would have to go to bowler-batsman Arina Lahari (62) who had to inject some good old lower order mongrel into a wavering Raukele innings. Other batsman who put their hands up were Elipema Kini (44) and Inoa Baeau (37not out). On the United bowling front Jack Lou (5-28) stamped his initials on this match with a 5 wicket haul-as good as a century in bowling terms. Simon Morea (2 for 53) chipped in with a couple to help polish off the Raukele batting. The United (4-203) run chase proved itself equal to the task reeling in the total in the 48th over. Batting credits go to Rarua Dikana (87 not out) for his dogged persistence and Jellico Heni (35) who assisted admirably. In other results over the weekend season underachievers Mariners (10-100) went down hard to top four contenders Mobil STC (5-101). On Sunday KCC (10-167) escaped a close one against TST Coasters (9-166) and in the BNG Poreporena vs. Wesram Taora match the result is before the Pom Cricket Board to be deliberated following conflicting information on returned score books.