Port Moresby eyes Madang hockey titles

TWENTY-eight teams are competing in the Port Moresby Hockey Association (POMHA) competition when the season proper started on Sunday at the Sir John Guise Stadium.
Association president James Tapo said after moving from the University of PNG grounds to the stadium, all teams found it difficult to adapt to the two allocated ovals which had a rough ground surface.
He added that the standard of the weekend’s games were not to expectation with a lot of the players still lacking match fitness.
However, Tapo is expecting better matches when the competition swings into week three.
He added that the association was looking forward to July when the national championships get underway in Madang from July 7-12.
He is hoping to see Port Moresby retain the women’s titles while a young men’s side should prove a force against the Lae men’s team.
“From the national championships there should be a very good number for a selected side to represent PNG at the Pacific Cup in Fiji in December.
“We are looking forward to and preparing for the event,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, NGI Tech drew Rapatona 0-0, Sunam beat United 2-0 while Bismark thrashed University 6-1.
In the men’s B grade, Sunam defeated Tubuserea 1-0 while Bismark beat Rapatona 1-0.
The women’s A grade, Rapatona defeated BSP 4-1, Sunam smashed Golden Eagles 3-0 while United drew Bismark 0-0 and NGI Tech held Black Pearls to a scoreless draw.
In the men’s A grade matches, Sunam beat NGI Tech 4-1, United drew Bismark 0-0 and Rapatona beat BSP 1-0.