Agmark nines set for October with bigger prizes

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE third edition of the Sepik Agmark Nines rugby league tournament is scheduled to be held at the Maprik Sports Ground in East Sepik from Oct 21-22 with 30 teams expected to vie for a total of K43,500 in prize money.
Tournament orgnaiser Bradley Simon told The National on Wednesday that their aim was to identify players for Sepik Pride, who would bid for Digicel Cup inclusion from next year.
“We want Sepik Pride to be prepared in advance if the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition accepts our bid for next year,” he said.
“We’ve brought the tournament forward to allow Digicel Cup clubs to identify players for the offseason.
“This year’s event is much bigger as the men’s winners will claim K20,000 compared with last year’s K15,000.”
Simon said 20 men’s and 10 women’s team were expected to compete in the two-day tournament.
“The men’s second, third and fourth-placed teams will receive K7,000, K3,000 and K2,500 respectively. K5,000 will be awarded to the women’s champion with the runners-up receiving K3000. The third and fourth-placed teams will bag K2,000 and K1,000 respectively.”
Registration for the tournament has already open with a fee of K1,000 for men’s teams and K500 for women’s sides.
“We acknowledge major sponsor Agmark Group of Companies and minor sponsors for making this possible,” Simon said.