NCD schools rugby league stages zone age-group selection trials

The National Capital District schools rugby league held its zone selection trials over the weekend at the Konedobu Oval.
Eight teams selected from various schools in each of the regions in the Under-18 and Under-16 divisions representing Moresby South, Moresby Northeast, Moresby Northwest and Motu Koita took on each other for the final select teams to represent NCD in the zone championship from July 4-5 in Port Moresby.
According to coordinator of the NCD school league Ben Kaupa, the weekend’s games were for selection trials to select the final teams to represent NCD at the Southern Zone School Boys League championship.
Two of the remaining games were played as curtain raiser to yesterday’s Digicel Cup match between Gulf Isapea and Muruks.
Kaupa said the schools boys’ league has been left without a sponsor since 2009 after Milo pulled out and despite that the league still struggled and put up a team to win the World Under-19 championship in Russia in 2014. PNG won the championship beating Australia in the final.
Kaupa said there has been a mini-revival with the help from Brian Kramer and Northern Governor Garry Juffa. The school boys’ league is competition to nurture future junior PNG Kumuls to defend PNG’s crown as world champions.
Kaupa said parents of the players have mostly been involved in supporting their children through various means, including lunch and uniforms. Yesterday, one such parent, Paul Timbi was out with his entire family to provide refreshments for the team and watch his son Paul Junior run in for his team Moresby Northeast Under-16 select side.
Results: North East U-16 lost one and won one while the Under-18 won both their games. The selected teams are expected to be announced today.