Philip Aravure, Kaugere win NCD schools’ rugby league

PHILIP Aravure and Kaugere primary schools were crowned champions of the National Capital District (NCD) schools rugby league competition after winning their respective finals in the Under-18 boys and girls finals on Sunday.
Philip Aravure won the U18 boys title with a 10-6 win over Kaugere while the U18 girls division saw Kaugere edge out Kilakila Secondary 8-6 with both finals played as curtain raisers for Port Moresby Rugby Football League (POM RFL) fixtures.
NCD schools rugby league association president Arnold Gende while commending officials and schools for a successful finals said the competition for next year would expand for NCD and Motu-Koitabu schools.
“We’ve affiliated eight schools this year and out of these schools we had eight boys’ teams and four girls teams and we managed to get the programme running with five weeks of competition and three weeks of finals,” he said.
“In a short period of time this year we’ve seen the interest from schools that participated and this programme is also a first for students to compete in a safe and fair competition like POM RFL.
“I’d like to thank the referees’ director and all the referees that participated in this programme because without them we wouldn’t be able to come out and run the programme efficiently through this tough year.
“The referees and school teachers are part of the development of the talent in this programmes.”