Capital union hosts finals

By HUXLEY LOVAI
Bava Park will come alive tomorrow as the Capital Rugby Union holds its grand final day across all grades, culminating in the premier game between defending champions University and Brothers.
The traditional rivals will face off in what is expected to be tough and brutal encounter between two teams that have a shared history going back 50 years.
Both clubs were pillars of Port Moresby and PNG rugby over the years providing players who went on to don the Pukpuks jersey in the 15s and 7s formats of the game.
It will be a fitting final with University Rugby Football Union Club celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
A back-to-back premiership victory will be the ultimate birthday present for the club.
Piggies’ couch Paul Joseph told The National: “We have a chance to defend our title, and we know it is going to be extra hard. Brothers have a monster pack, they are in a good frame of mind and they will be difficult to beat.”
Joseph said the premiership could be theirs “if we can play within our game, holding on to the ball and starving the opposition, making them do all the defending”.
Brothers, a club with shared heritage with Uni, will be out to spoil the party.
The cornerstone club of Port Moresby rugby struggled to play with any consistency in the beginning of the season, however, they have showed great character to turn their season around securing a grand final appearance.
Brothers coach Joe Kautu spoke to The National after their semifinal win over two weeks ago. “Despite our slow start to the season we have finished off strongly, with key players having returning to side,” Kautu said after the win.
“This is where we are supposed to be. We have everyone back on deck with a full strength team and we are looking forward to the grand final.”
Grand final fixtures: Sat, Aug 26 –
U19 – Wanderers v Harlequins; B Grade – Wanderers v Nova; Women – Nova v Harlequins; A Grade – Harlequins v University; Premier – University v Brothers.