Schools rugby league comp in Highlands recognises players

THE Coca-Cola National Schools Rugby League Highlands Regional Championships recognised players for their outstanding performance at the Jonah Ambane Oval Minj, Jiwaka last week.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka, who is the man behind the rebranding of the NSRL, has targeted early development and grooming of potential Hunters and Kumuls through this concept.
Tsaka said this junior development pathway would develop and nurture talents from the schools to play representative age group and senior football as well as professional sport.
He said the best would be selected to participate in the National Championships on July 1-8 in Port Moresby.
Five centres took part the Highlands championship: Mendi, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Jiwaka and Wabag.
Each centre competed in the U14 boys, U16 boys, U18 boys and Open girls divisions.
The Northern championships kicks off tomorrow at the Lae Rugby League ground.
The Southern championship takes place next week (June 26-27) in Port Moresby.
Age group teams (U14 Boys, U16 Boys, U18 Boys and Open Girls) for all four confederates (NGI, Highlands, Northern and Southern) will be finalised and released before next month’s (July 1-8) Coca-Cola NSRL National Championships in Port Moresby.
Tsaka said the league would also promote and encourages fair play and discipline on and off the field and outstanding players would be rewarded in all the divisions.
The Highlands championship top performing players were: Open girls – Anna Kos (Jiwaka); U18 boys – Jeremiah Upiap (Mt Hagen); U16 Boys – Abraham Tom (Mendi); U14 Boys – Jobby Sawavi (Goroka).
Results: Highlands Schools Championships – U18 boys: Mendi 8 Goroka 4, Wabag 12 Jiwaka 10, Mt Hagen 12 Wabag 0, Jiwaka 6 Goroka 4, Jiwaka 14 Mendi 12, Wabag 4 Goroka 2, Jiwaka 6 Mt Hagen 4; Open girls: Mt Hagen 8 Wabag 0. Jiwaka 0 Goroka 0, Jiwaka 0 Mt Hagen 0, Mt Hagen 0 Goroka 0, Jiwaka 8 Wabag 0; U16 boys: Mendi 10 Jiwaka 4, Wabag 0 Mt Hagen 0, Goroka forfeited Wabag, Goroka 2 Mendi 0, Mendi 8 Wabag 2, Mt Hagen 6 Jiwaka 6; U14 boys: Goroka 14 Mendi 0, Mendi forfeited Wabag, Mt Hagen forfeited Wabag, Mt Hagen 6 Mendi 0, Goroka 8 Mendi 0.