| Sports |
Friendly match ends peacefully
By ZACHERY PER
PAGINI Warriors and Bintangor
Lahanis made peace last weekend to end a feud they had last year
during a SP Cup final match in Goroka.
The management of Bintangor Lahanis and Goroka Rugby League (GRL)
provided K1,000 cash, a slaughtered pig, 20 cartons of beer and
five cartons of assorted softdrinks for the Warriors.
The peace was made in front of a record crowd of spectators
including Simbu Governor Peter Launa at the Sir Danny Leahy rugby
league ground in Goroka.
Lahanis invited Warriors to Goroka for a SP Cup trial match and
for the reconciliation ceremony prior to entering the actual SP
Cup competition to begin this weekend.
Lahanis team manager Himony Lapiso said Simbu and Eastern
Highlands province were like brother with many commonalities.
He said the two provinces were known for producing many highly
respected PNG Kumul players for many years.
"We want to end differences and maintain this colorful tradition
for the two provinces as far as rugby league is concerned," Lapiso
said.
He thanked GRL for facilitating the peace ceremony that started at
the rugby league ground and ended at the Fire House night club on
Easter Sunday.
GRL President Pat Siwi said the management of Warriors and players
accepted their gesture, adding that they have now buried their
differences.
"We are looking for a very good cooperative climate of SP Cup
competition this year with the Warriors," he said.
On the other end, Warriors coach Gore Kaupa thanked the Lahanis
management, GRL and players for making peace with them.
He invited them to Kundiawa during their first match against them
where they would return a similar peace ceremony.
During an elimination final match between Lahanis and Warriors in
Goroka, Lahanis supporters went out of hand to mistreat Warriors
supporters and players that subsequently led Lahanis to win the
game.
Warriors that made a significant impact after re-entering the
competition last year after a few years of absence succeeded to
make into the final rounds last year.
However, the hope was shattered when Lahanis ousted them to
qualify for the grand final against Mabey and Johnson Muruks.
 
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