NCD schools rugby league competition starts playoffs

By ROBINSON LEKA
NATIONAL Capital District Schools Rugby League kicked off its playoffs last Thursday with the top-eight Moresby South teams going head-to-head at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.
Schools rugby league coordinator Arnold Gende confirmed the participation of 27 schools across three electorates this year with playoffs for only two progressing.
He said the playoffs followed eight weeks of competition throughout the year with each electorate sending their top-eight sides to the playoffs.
“We had matches for the Moresby South pool,” Gende said.
“We will be having playoffs for the North East pool.
“They are the only two confirmed pools.
“Unfortunately, Moresby North-West was unable to send its teams with only two schools selected to represent the electorate.
“The two pools (North East and Moresby South) have met all the requirements and are ready.
“Motu-Koita and Moresby North-West were only able to send two schools each for the elimination finals.
“For the Motu-Koita schools, it’s a special case because they are the landowners of Port Moresby, so we have their teams playing alongside the Moresby South schools.
“The winners from this week will play in the preliminary finals on Tuesday and the winner from there will advance into the finals that will be played next Friday.”
Gende said the competition was also running alongside development programmes under the PNG Rugby Football League with emphasis on creating more opportunities for student athletes.
“We want to give a chance to students to come to school and participate in this programme where there are pathways,” he said.
“They can do well in sports if they can’t progress in school.”