Mendi RL cancels finals for second time

Sports

MENDI Rugby League president Barclay Tenza says he was forced to cancel his finals  because there was no funds to run the playoff series.
A disappointed Tenza told The National earlier in the week that he had approached business houses and the provincial government throughout the course of the season but had got one favourable response.
He added that earlier in the year the MRL had signed an MOU with Digicel Cup franchises the Hela Wigmen and the Mendi Muruks for the use of their field, the Joe Keviame Oval at Tente in the town’s west, but neither Digicel Cup side had paid their promised share of money for the use of the facility.
“We were supposed to have our finals this month but we can’t because there is no money to run the finals and do things like buying trophies, providing cash prizes and paying officials,” Tenza said.
“We approached everyone in town including Governor William Powi’s office but no one was interested. The same thing happened last year and I had to cancel the finals then too.” Tenza claimed that the agreement entered into between his league and the two franchises stipulated that they would give K15,000 as their share for the use of the JKO.
He said because both clubs had not paid the money they promised, the MRL would not allow them back to the Joe Keviame Oval in 2017.
Only one local firm had helped the league this year – Ipwenz Construction.