Sixteen sides vying for Lae Super 9s title

 THE Lae Super Nines rugby league tournament enters the elimination rounds this weekend.

The competition, sponsored by Lae Biscuits Company, has attracted a lot of interest and this weekend will be no different as the contest for spots for the play-offs heats up.

Sixteen teams have been involved in the shortened version of game over the last two weekends at the Lae Rugby League ground for the various prizes on offer.

Teams have been grouped in two pools comprising six teams each.

Tournament coordinator Steve Malum said the competition has reached the knock-out stages with the losers to be eliminated while the winners advance to the next stage of the challenge.

Pool A has Titans, School Boys1, JKT Lim Tigers, Rangerz, Kamkumung Crushers1 and Defence.

Spiders, Schools Boys2, Kamkumung Crushers2, Unitech Spartans, Chinatown Red Bulls and City United make up Pool B.

Malum said the final two rounds will be played on Saturday to decide the four finalists.

The top two teams from each pool advance to the play-offs on Sunday where they engage in a cross-pool elimination round. 

That means Pool A’s top team will face off against the second-placed team from Pool B while Pool B leaders take on the second-placed side from Pool A.

Winners of these games automatically qualify for the grand final later the same day to decide 2014 Lae 9s champion.