Hot for sevens
The National, Wednesday March 26th, 2014
By JACK AMI
PAPUA New Guinea under-20 soccer captain Rumona Morris made the final cut for the Palais sevens side to the Hong Kong Sevens women’s tournament on Friday. The side left for Hong Kong yesterday.
The 12-member side includes five debutants with Brisbane-based duo Marlugu Dixon and Amelia Kuk along with Michelle John, Barbara Cecil and Molina Michael set to play their first game against Brazil and then South Africa in their qualifying Pool B fixtures on Friday.
Eighteen-year-old Morris made the initial wider squad after impressing during the Women’s National Sevens Championship in Port Moresby last month.
The Madang lass earlier this year led the national soccer U20s to a top two finish in the Oceania Football Confederation Youth World Cup Qualifying tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, and although a relative novice in the rugby code has experience in big tournaments.
Dixon and Kuk who were teammates with Rumona in the Madang side have also been given a chance in recently-appointed coach Elenoa Kunatuba’s side and with their obvious talent and size are expected to acquit themselves well in Hong Kong.
Current Palais captain Kymlie Karani, Dulcie Bomai, Doris Joseph, Amanda Ipat, Freda Waula and Cassandra Samson retained their spots to compete the final 12.
The Port Moresby-based Karani and Bomai have the playmaking and creative responsibilities and have been a part of the Palais for the last two years. Ipat, Waula and Samson have played previously for the Palais.
Coach Kunatuba is determined to start her tenure on a positive note and advancing to the finals on Saturday will achieve that goal.
Pool B opponents Brazil and South Africa have the advantage of having played in more International Rugby Board-sanctioned tournaments however PNG are only required to win one of their pool matches to advance to the next stage the following day.
The other sides for the qualifying stage of the Hong Kong Sevens women’s tournament are Hong Kong, Canada, Kazakhstan (Pool A), France, Kenya, China (Pool C), Ireland, Japan, Singapore.