POMRFL referee assaulted

AN A-grade Port Moresby Rugby Football (POMRFL) finals match between Brothers and Hohola Flies remains in dispute after referee Leonard Alphonse was assaulted by a player on Saturday.
Hohola Flies were leading 18-14 three minutes from fulltime at oval two of the Oil Search National Football Stadium when a Brothers player punched Alphonse which caused him to bleed.
Alphones left the field and ran into the sheds for his safety.
The touch judges were also verbally assaulted by the players.
League chairman Dr James Naipao told The National that the player (not named) would be banned from the competition for life.
“According to the rules, a player can’t touch or assault a referee and the two touch judges,” he said.
“Players in other leagues around the country may get away with this.
“But for POMRFL, everything is recorded.
“We are under the spotlight from the media and a player who assaults a referee won’t get away with it.
“It’s a serious matter.”
Naipao condemned the actions of the player.
The decision on the result of the match is yet to be made.
Naipao said there would be no rematch since 77 minutes of the game had already been played.
Meanwhile, he said there were fans who entered the venue illegally. Fans were not allowed to attend but a few of both teams’ supporters illegally entered the venue,” Naipao said.
“Both clubs will be fined.”