Flies, Aroma Coast qualify for club titles

By JACK AMI
PORT Moresby Hohola Flies and Aroma Coast West finished on top of their pools earning the right to represent the Southern Confederate in the national rugby league club championships in February in Lae.
The two qualifyers also bagged earned K5000 each while the runners-up in each pool got K2500 each – but that money will be made available when sponsorship is finalised by Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi, pictured.
The Hohola Flies stopped Gaire JCI Titans 14-4 and AC West tamed Rigo Seida Raiders 24-14 in the qualifying finals at the National Football Stadium yesterday witnessed by a capacity crowd of around 5000.
The Flies and AC West were unbeaten throughout the qualifiers.
The fans were also at the NFS to cheer on their teams in the opening round of the annual Southern Region Nines tournament. Flies and AC West had the upperhand over their opponents with their experienced players most of whom play in the Port Moresby Rugby League and Digicel Cup adding their class to the proceedings.
With the Flies and AC West tipped to dominate earlier in the week, the two teams did not disappoint.
But their opponents, the Titans and Raiders with rural talents showed their potential but were up against better teams but competed from the first to the last minute.
Flies coach Steven Eka dedicated the win to their late president Josiah Wassey.
Mairi said the Southern Confederate has now ended its programme for the 2016 calendar sanctioned by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League.
Mairi said PNGRFL would have to make their commitments for the national club championship.
The other confederations in Northern, Highlands and New Islands have also completed their programmes for 2016.