Lae oval unfit for Digicel Cup match

By KEVIN TEME
THE elimination final in the Digicel Cup between Structural Bridging Systems Mendi Muruks and the Stop N Shop Port Moresby Vipers in Lae was cancelled due to work carried out on the rugby league grounds.
PNG Rugby Football League acting general manager Ivan Ravu, who was in Lae last Friday to inspect the grounds, said the rugby league grounds were undergoing facelift in preparation for the Prime Minister’s XIII clash between PNG and Australia on Sept 25. 
The PNG National Rugby League also said in an e-mail the match was cancelled but the match between the Toyota Enga Mioks and the NGIP Agmark Rabaul Gurias in Kokopo went ahead as planned.
Ravu said the PNGRFL noted that the venue in Lae was unsafe for the players forcing the PNGRFL to call the game off.
The move should see the finals draw for the Digicel Cup pushed back by a week.
“Maintenance on the Lae Rugby League grounds started last Friday in preparations for the Prime Minister’s XIII match.
“We found also that the playing surface was not suitable for the players forcing the PNGRFL to carry out the maintenance work,” Ravu said.
In the other elimination final, Israel Eliab, who came off the bench for the Gurias, potted a field goal in the dying stages of the second half to seal a 17-16 victory over the Mioks.
The Gurias will meet minor premiers Bintangor Goroka Lahanis at the National Sports Institute in Goroka next Sunday.
The Mioks will be on bye. They will await the result of the Muruks and Vipers clash – the winner advancing to meet the Mioks.