Open College United clinch UPNG SRC Nines crown

OPEN College United were crowned University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Student Representative Council (SRC) Nines champions after slaying UPNG Dragons in an epic grand final over the weekend.
United held on to win 4-0 in a gruelling 18 minutes of rugby league in the Cup final in Port Moresby.
The match went down to the wire with both teams putting their bodies on the line.
But a try to United captain Steven Jack in the first half proved to be enough to help his side claim victory.
United claimed the Cup and K1,000 while runners-up Dragons bagged K500 as a token of appreciation from the SRC.
Jack said his team had stuck to their plan and executed well.
“We knew they were the better side, so we had to stick to our plan and that was to defend our four points and we did just that in the second half,” he said.
In the plate final, tournament favourites, Medics, thrashed Themist Spartans.
PNG LNG Kumuls head coach Michael Marum, who was accompanied by Kumul legend Arnold Krewanty, presented individual medals to the Cup runners-up and winners.
Krewanty urged male UPNG students to help develop rugby league and protect female students on campus.
He assured the UPNG Rugby Football League (UPNGRFL) that the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) would continue to support the sport’s governing body on campus to help develop the game.
In an interview with The National, UPNGRFL president Wayne Wama thanked PNGRFL, adding that such support was timely and that he was looking forward to working with the sport’s national governing body.
SRC president Bradley Yombon-Copio said it was “a relief after a week of stress” for him and fellow students to come out and support their clubs.
“We have been through a lot over the last few weeks, so it is nice to come and relax and mingle with each other,” he said. Yombon-Copio applauded the success of the nine’s tournament.
He added that they were planning to host an all-university games in August.