Bradshaw applauds Hagen effort at c’ship

 By ELIAS LARI

WESTERN Highlands Women’s Rugby League president Elizabeth Lolo Bradshaw has praised the Eagles for winning the Country Rugby Football League tournament in Lae last month.

Bradshaw said the provincial women’s Western Highlands Eagles has made the people proud with their achievement.

Eagles defeated Goroka on December 8 to claim the title.

Bradshaw said her vision was to develop and promote women’s rugby league.

“I m very impressed with the performance of my provincial team and that means now that rugby league will be the game that will be used to change many women and girls’ (lives).”

She said it was a new sport to women in the province but had the potential to become bigger.

She said she was now looking forward to contribute players to the women’s national team to play in New Zealand next year.

She thanked Wendy Kohun women’s rugby league founder and administrator and PNG Rugby Football League director Russ Kaupa for their tireless effort to help grow women’s rugby league.

Bradshaw also praised the participating teams Banning, Fatima, Lae Jaka Bullets, Banz and Gororka for participating  in the tournament.

She said with her hard working executives Doreen Suponduo (secretary) Christina Memti (technical officer) Jonny Gigs (technical advisor) Dr Umba (doctor) and Clint M (coach and trainer) for the part they played in the team’s success.

She thanked the sponsors Governor Pais Wingti and the provincial government for contributing K10,000, Petroleum and Energy Minister and Hagen Open MP William Duma who gave K6000 as his personal contributions, Coca-Cola Amatail Mt Hagen branch which assisted with 40 T-shirts and caps and 10 cartoons of drinks, East West Transport, Eagle Fuel Distributors, Lipura Investment, Mathew Bradshaw and OILMIN.

She said without their support then Eagles would not have made it to the tournament.

“My aim now is to make this game become bigger and expand it towards the rural communities,” Bradshaw said.