Gurias four get 12 years

FOUR Agmark Guria players have been banned for a total of 12 years while the franchise was fined and stripped of two competition points following their attack on SNS Vipers officials and players at Kalabond Oval two weeks ago.
After receiving reports from Alois ToBata from East New Britain Rugby Football League (ENBRFL), Joe Perugua (referee) and from Vipers coach Paul Komboi and players, the PNGNRL-sanctioned Port Moresby judicial committee has found five Gurias players and a senior official guilty.
The chairman of  POMRFL Judiciary Committee Jamuga Stone said Scott Tepra, George Moni, Sigfried Gende and Ronnie Matalau were all suspended for three years for their first offence while another Emmanuel John escaped with a two-week suspension.
These players were cited under section 19.2 player misconduct.
Tepra was found guilty of punching a player and assaulting or throwing an object to an official – Vipers coach Komboi – while Matalau was found guilty of assaulting  and throwing an object at Komboi.
Current Kumuls Moni and Gende were both found guilty of assaulting the Port Moresby-based Perugua by pushing and touching him while John was booked for punching a Vipers player.
The judiciary committee also cited Agmark Guria coaching director Michael Marum under section 19.4, team official misconduct, and suspended him for four matches.
It was also strongly recommended by the judiciary committee to PNGRFL that Marum should not be selected for national and international rugby league duties for the next three years
It was reported that the majority of Guria players walked out of the playing field with six minutes remaining and continued to delay the game for almost 10 minutes while disputing a Vipers try. Under the PNGRFL standard competition rules section 13: Forfeit
d) A team shall forfeit a match in the following circumstances:
ii) Where a team leaves the field before the referee signals full time or refuses to comply with the referee instruction to continue play.
Considering all the penalties, the judicial committee awarded the game to the Vipers and fined the Gurias K250.
The fine must be paid before the next game or the Gurias could risk expulsion from the bemobile Cup.
Attempts to contact Michael Marum through email and telephone since last week have been unsuccessful.