Morata Swans retain NCD Governor’s Cup

By KEVIN TEME
REIGNING champions Morata Swans retained the NCD Governor’s Cup after beating Morata Bullets 4-0 in the Cup grand final at the Kone Tigers Oval yesterday.
Despite the muddy conditions, Swans proved too strong for their rivals beating them in an entertaining match to also take out the K4,000 prizemoney.
Bullets settled for K2,000.
Swans went in as favourites after going undefeated throughout the four-day tournament.
Bullets put on an impressive performance but Swans hit late in the opening half with the only try of the match.
It was winger Philemon Nepol that blew the Bullets off the field.
Bullets captain Ron Wek, Olga Pena and rising star Samuel Koru tried desperately to create opportunities for their side.
But they failed to break through the Swans’ defence and denied them any chance of finding the try line.
There were more New Year celebrations for the Morata suburb with Swans, Bullets and Hans Brothers ending the challenge on a high note.
Brothers beat Gerehu United 8-4 in the plate final to walk away with K1,800 while United pocketed K800.
In the bowl final, Dickson Ani’s field goal gave the East Nokondis a 5-4 victory over the 9-Mile Giants after fighting out 4-4 draw for almost the entire encounter.
The Nokondis won K700 in prizemoney while Giants took out K400.
In the women’s final, Hohola Lareva Dragons were crowned the inaugural queens of the NCD Governor’s Cup after defeating Boroko Pythons 4-0 in a mud-wrestling but entertaining encounter yesterday.
The heavy rain also did not dampen the hopes of exciting fans that flocked to the Kone Tigers oval to support their teams.
The women showed that they could match their male counterparts by putting on impressive show.
Dragons and Pythons battled throughout regulation time.
However, with the both sides scoreless, the match had to be forced into extra time.    
And it was Dragons five-eighth Yaroanna Morefa who scored on the left flank to break the hearts of the Pythons and ran away with the cup and the K1,000 prize money.
Pythons settled for K500.
Eight teams participated in the competition were also given consolation prizes.
Port Moresby Suburban Sports Association chairman Billy Aki said it was the first time for women to be included in the challenge last year.
Aki said he hoped that with more funding they could continue to support women’s rugby league.