Bumpers, Knights in final

 By JACK AMI

TWO Hohola suburban teams – Freeway Bumpers and H6 Knights – will face off in the National Capital District Governor’s

Cup rugby league final on Sunday at Ipi Park, Hohola.

This is the first time two teams from the same offseason league are contesting the cup since the tournament started in 2010.

Despite a delay in the competition due disputes over results in the playoffs earlier in the week, the annual competition has finally ironed out its issues and the cup final is expected to draw hundreds of fans from Hohola and around the national capital.

The cup winners will pocket K10,000 along with the cup, while the runners-up get K5000.

In the plate final, the winners pick up K3000 with the runners-up settling for K2000.

In the bowl, the winner bags K1500 and K1000 goes to the runners-up.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, pictured, will be at the presentation of awards at the competition his office sponsored with K40,000 last month.

Bumpers and Knights secured their grand final berths on their home ground and the clash is expected to split the suburb’s league fans into Hohola and Burns Peak camps. 

According to organiser Billy Aki, the Governor’s Cup was trouble-free with coordinators, referees, touch judges and supporters all playing their part for a successful week of competition.

Reigning champions Bumpers were given a fright in the semi-final on Wednesday by visitor’s 9-Mile Giants.

The Giants scored two unconverted tries in the first half to lead 8-0 before the hosts, led by skipper Presley Soto, fought back in the second half to claim the lead 10-8 and hold on in a close  nail-biting final 10 minutes. 

Knights, on the other hand, took advantage of the disrupted preparation by their semi-final opponents Morata Star Brothers, who had to contend with a dispute by Morata Steelers earlier in the week.

Brothers played flat and lacked the urgency to win their match, losing 16-0 to the Knights in the other cup semi-final.

The competition was not without incident as a coordinator, Yanga Harupa, was punched by a Steelers player at Kone Tigers Oval on Tuesday, after they lost their playoff 10-8, to Brothers.

Steelers’ players and officials claimed they should have been allowed a try scored in the final minute of play despite the referee James Bon calling it back because a Steelers player was offside from the restart.

Harupa was attacked in front of Aki, who is the Port Moresby Suburban Sports Association chairman. 

He suffered bruising to one side of his face and is contemplating taking legal action against his assailant.