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Sports |
Super kick off
By HAIVETA KIVIA
THE scene is set as PNG rugby union’s premier competition, the
Super 4s, kicks off tomorrow at the SCRUM Oval in Lae.
The competition will run for a week with matches to be played
tomorrow, Wednesday and next Saturday. The competition is a
round robin competition and which team leads after the final
matches will be declared the champions.
The championship for the last three years, including this year,
has being held in Lae.
This year is also the fifth year of the competition which the
Besta Northern Reds have won three times and Southern Traders
once. The Reds won the inaugural title in 2003, lost it to the
Traders in 2004, reclaimed it in 2005 and defended it
successfully last year.
Tomorrow, the defending champions play traditional rivals Credit
Corporation Southern Traders in the opening encounter. A match
where the stakes are high, the winner of this match will set the
foundation to claim the title.
The Traders have not beaten the Reds and the Highlanders in the
last two years. They will have to overcome this psychological
disadvantage to claim victories.
The Besta Reds head coach Joe Toilip is confident in the players
he has at his disposal.
The Reds forward pack is virtually a new look with the exception
of Ian Gore, Billy Ben, Michael Muriki, Manu Gairo, Eddie Konimo
and Edeck Gula.
Toilip has hatched a forward play that he said would be used
against the Traders but would not reveal what the plan was.
The Reds ran as team yesterday, and are yet settle on their
starting line-up but Gore, Ben, Gairo, Muriki, Konimo, Gula,
halfback Peter Opa, second fives Matagal Tamilong and Joseph
Wamapiri, centres Steven Iko and Lua Wani and fullback Raymond
Tau are certain to start.
Madang fly-half Steven Mel, fullback Ralph Susuve, prop Maxon
Simon and lock Jason Tropu are also pressing for starting spot.
The Traders have maintained the virtually the same side from
last year with the inclusion of experienced Gabriel Tika, along
with University team mate George Oki, Harlequins’ young number
eight Tony Tadabe.
The Traders backline remains same, except for the inclusion
nippy Defence back Adek Naio.
In the main encounter NGI Hurricanes takes on the might of the
Porgera Joint Venture Highlanders.
The Highlanders have being threatening to wrestle the title from
the Reds and Traders but first they have to overcome the
Islanders, who have been their nemesis in the past tournaments.
 
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