Lae league get boost

By RIGGO NANGAN
STRUCTURAL Bridging Systems Limited PNG (SBSL) now has a naming right to the Lae rugby league after it came good with a K75,000 sponsorship for the 2011 season.
The country’s second biggest rugby league is now Structural Bridging Systems Lae Rugby Football League.
SBSL managing director Tom Higgins presented the funds to Lae Rugby Football League officials last Thursday.
If there was anyone was more elated, it was the Lae league president Russ Kaupa, who said the assistance came just when it was needed.
Kaupa wasted no time in lining up his plans on how the money would be put to use.
He said there were maintenance work on side seats, other facilities and the administration.
He said K30,000 of the money would be used for prizes for clubs at the end of the season.
Higgins is also the franchise owner of the Mendi Muruks, after his company SBSL took over Mabey & Johnson.
Higgins said he was happy to assist the league because it was one way he could help the 1,000 youths in both men’s and women’s divisions to keep them occupied in sporting activities.
There are 12 clubs competing this season. Each club will have three teams of A, B and C grades for men and a women’s team.
Kaupa is calling on clubs to pay their K500 affiliation fee and K30 players’ registration fee.
Of the 12 clubs, Pirates, Miles Mates, Tent City Rangers, West Taraka Brothers, JK Lim Morobe Tigers and Royals have paid their fees while in the women’s division, 14-B and Miles Mates had paid.