Pukpuks trial in Lae

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Tuesday 09th April, 2013

 By JOHN PANGKATANA

SEVEN Lae-based players have been identified to compete for a spot in the forthcoming training camp with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high performance unit.

The players were selected from a trial match held at the SCRUM Oval in Lae involving up to 54 players on Saturday. The players include former Papua New Guinea Under-20 skipper Jackson Pato, Northern Reds skipper Mike Mire, Sam Ebei, Bobby Bulumaris, John Ephriam, Robin Yak, Ryan Samba.

They will be brought to Port Moresby tomorrow to compete for a position in the upcoming tour of the Monier Pukpuks development squad to the Gold Coast slated for April 24 to May 4.

Capital Rugby Union (CRU) do­minates the numbers, while those from other centres include Gabriel Biyama, Arnold Lange (Madang), Hansley Peter, Albert Levi Jnr (Rabaul), Henry Liliket, Hubert Vitolo, Timothy Pola (Kimbe), Hubert Tseraha (Buka).

From overseas, former sevens re­p­­resentative Alistair McLay (Brisbane), University Piggies product Ralph Susuve (Bris­bane) and Jessie Ray (Cairns) will fly in by Friday.

Pukpuks technical advisor and former Pukpuk coach Farrell Temata, who was in Lae to oversee the training programme and trial, will be accompanied by Lae-based national selector Robin Tarere, pictured, to Port Moresby as well.

“The trial was competitive and played in tough conditions. It showed a lot of talent within Morobe which shows the great work SCRUM are doing,” Temata said.

They will join Pukpuk head coach Allan Manning for the second training camp in Port Moresby this week.

Manning said the Pukpuks would conduct sessions throughout the week at the Monier Rugby Park before playing a final trial match on Saturday in-between the Capital Rugby Union (CRU) games. 

 “Most of the players selected will be part of the Pukpuks train-on squad who will defend our Oceania title in July,” Manning said.