Royals beat Paga for title

By JACK AMI
ROYALS edged Paga 24-16 to make it a back to back premiership in the Port Moresby Rugby League women’s grand final at the National Football Stadium on Saturday.
The PRL women’s final showdown was played as one of the curtain raisers to the Prime Minister’s XIII between Papua New Guinea and Australia in which the Aussie’s humiliated the home side 58-0.
This was witnessed by a good crowd who packed the National Football Stadium.
Royals picked up the premiership Cup and K7000 cash prize presented by the PRL patron and Moresby North East MP Labi Amaiu. Paga settled for runners up trophy and K3500 for their efforts.
Royals will also pick up their minor premiers cash prize of K3000 later in the week.
For Royals it was sweet revenge as they were beaten 8-0 in the major semi final and returned on Saturday with vengeance and completed that in style.
Paga opened the score with centre Catherine Anjo near the uprights with wing Rosewita Jack successful converting to lead 6-0. Full back Jacklyn Sele crossed over shortly after to increase the score line to 10- 0.
On the 30th minute Royal rebounded with a try to wing Marie Biyama that was successfully converted by centre Naomi Kaupa to trail 10-6 at the break.
The ladies in blue were kept under pressure by Paga when they lead 16-6 in the opening minutes of the second stanza.
But what followed was four straight tries on the left edge through winger Marie Biyama, Leonie Kataro and centre Naomi Kaupa had a double to her name. Hooker Jennifer Robert converted one out of four.
Paga’s second half four-pointer was by captain Cathy Neap and Waikili John picked up the extras.
Royals captain Melly Jacob said it was all hard when they were trailing but capitalised on weakness on the left edge to score four tries in a row in the same area.
Her opposite Neap added that their left edge defence collapsed and the opposition capitalised well to score four tries to win the march.
In individual awards Paga’s Catherine Anjo was named player of the year, the top scorer award went to Souths’ speedster Joan Kuman. Sammy Rice Jackson picked up his second coach of the year award.