Rare win in rugby
DIGICEL PNG Pukpuks must beat Vanuatu in their final match of the qualifying round of the Federation of Oceania Rugby Union (FORU) Cup at Metropolitan stadium in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
If PNG win, they will meet Niue early next year in the finals at Niue.
According to reports from Port Vila, PNG made a bold start in their campaign after thrashing the Solomon Island 49-9 on Wednesday.
This was Solomons second loss which put them out of the race for the finals while Vanuatu and PNG will have to square it up to see who play Niue in the New Year.
Vanuatu who defeated the Solomons in the opening match 18-4, will find the PNG team hard to beat despite home ground advantage.
Pukpuks winger Gina Ponda scored three tries while Christopher Ogi (inside centre) two and Raymond Romalius (inside centre), Jack Maraha (halfback) and Charlie Maip (flanker) collected one each to bring the score for PNG Pukpuks to 49 while Solomon Island points came from three penalties.
PNG started off with three tries to Ponda in the opening half and came back to seal the match with the tries to Ogi, Romalus, Maraha and Map in the second half of the match.

You are now invited
INVITATION is open to all teams in NCD and other suburban leagues to nominate for the NCD Governor Cup at the end of the year.
Host Morata Rugby Football League competition will host the competition after NCD Governor Powes Parkop have indicated that he would provide some financial assistance for the competition.
The competition was initiated by Morata League president Billy Yaki following the successful inaugural year last year.
Yaki said Parkop expressed that he would support a four-day competition on Dec 28-31.
He said the invitation is now open to all suburban leagues to nominate their representative teams for the championships with a nomination fee of K150.
Yaki said so far Hohola, Konedobu, Morata and Boroko will put two teams each while Bomana will field three teams.
He said the teams will be placed in pools – with the winner advancing to the finals.
Meanwhile, Morata Rugby League is appealing to all clubs to pay their outstanding monies before they can take the field this weekend.
He said the clubs are Gibura Raiders, Megusa Brothers, M3 Bulldogs, Mountain Eagles, Mountain Roosters, Gateway Sharks while other have completed include Wagaini Cowboys, Northern Warriors, K-Hawks, West Kanges, Rangers, Kongo Rats, Eastern Eels.

Duo to lead Kumuls against Madang Fox
By SAMPSON BONAI
STRIKERS Raymond Gunemba and Richard Daniels will lead Tuguba Laitepo Morobe Kumuls when they take on Madang Fox in round six of the National Soccer League at Laiwaden Oval in Madang tomorrow.
Gunemba and Daniels who featured prominently in their win over Besta Madang Fighters two weeks ago are expected to lead their charges.
And coach Max Foster is not taking any chances as he put his players through their training paces this week.
“We have concentrated on our weaknesses in ball possession and distribution during training this week and the morale of all the players is high at the training camp and are looking forward to meet Madang Fox,” Foster said.
“I have instructed the players to flow the ball up front to create opportunity for our strikers Raymond Gunemba, Richard Daniels and Billy Namuesh to penetrate into Fox territory to score if we want to beat them,” he added.
“Three of the injured players Armstrong Peka, Michael Foster and Rodney Talau’s level of fitness will be checked today.”
He said he would name their replacements before departing for Madang.
Madang Fox coach Bob Morris said he had a relatively young side who lacked experienced in all departments and is putting them through tough training to groom them up into a fighting-fit outfit and is adamant that they will give Morobe Kumuls a tough game.
“We respect Morobe Kumuls team as a top side blended with many international players in the likes of Daniels and Gunemba but we have the home crowd support and advantage that will boost our players morale to fight to the last minute,” Morris said.
“We have signed on Ludwig Bai from Defence Pom as our goal keeper and Jonah MaLus from University club and he might join us this weekend or in our next game against Hekari United. Their inclusion will add strength and speed to the side.”
Madang Fox possible line up is Ludwig Bai (goalkeeper), Allan Lalos, Raymond Bailey (midfield),
Glen Mark, Eric Matawai (defence), Adrian Lomu, Exie Frank, Roman Bangko, Notu Zake and Paul Wer, Billy Karitawol (replacement striker) and Brendan Lucas. Reserves are Richard Linge, Alfred Reu Jr, Gabriel Kambe, Gordon Kata and Colin Kell (flanks).