Off-Cuts win
The National, 08th April, 2013
By PHILIP KEPSON
THE Wantok Trading Off-Cuts of Mendi are the new champions of the country’s biggest off-season ruby league competition, the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup.
The Southern Highlanders, led by Kumul David Loko, beat home team Wabag Central Spart Knights 20-10 in front of a capacity crowd at the Johnson Siki Oval in Wabag to bag the major cash prize of K50,000.
The knights took home K25,000.
Two Morobe teams of Kamkumung Crushers and Bulolo Miners, who finished third and fourth, received K15,000 and K10,000 respectively.
The Goroka Brumbies, from Eastern Highlands, defeated Kung Peng of Mt Hagen City 8-6 to grab the major prize of K6,000 in the women’s final, while the runner-up took K3,500.
Competition chief executive officer, Timothy Lepa said K200,000 had been distributed among finalist teams of the eastern and western end challenges that attracted more than 84 teams this year.
The Eastern end challenge was organised for teams from Morobe and the New Guinea Islands, including Kimbe, Kokopo, Buka and Kavieng, to take part in the lead-up games, while teams from the five Highlands provinces and Port Moresby took part in the western end challenge before the top eight teams from the two challenges were invited to play on Saturday in the preliminary finals to see the top four teams entering the finals.
Sports and South Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko, who travelled yesterday from Port Moresby to officially kick off the final at the invitation of Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, said he was happy with the organisers of the competition.
“I thank you Governor, Grand Chief Peter Ipatas and others who are involved in promoting the code through this competition.
“The success of the competition is a reflection of commitment and outstanding management of the event,” he said.
Ipatas said he was happy to see the competition growing better and bigger every year since its humble start about 13 years ago.
“I am happy to say that the competition has grown from strength to strength to come this far to attract over 84 teams from around the country.”