Southern triumph in Telikom 9s

By PARKER TAMBUA
SOUTHERN Confederation swept the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Telikom National Nines Championships at the National Football Stadium on Sunday.
Southern were crowned the Under-20, women’s and men’s champions.
The men’s final between Southern and Highlands was a thriller as the scores were locked at 14-14 at fulltime.
But Southern winger Felix Dickson crossed over in the second half of extra time to sink Highlands.
Western native Dickson told The National after the game that it was his first time in Port Moresby and that he had never played on such a stage.
“I was part of the Western representative side that competed in the Southern leg of the Telikom Nines the previous week and it was there that I got selected to represent Southern,” he said.
“It’s only my second week in the city and to score the winning try at this great venue is a special moment for me.”
Southern coach Bagelo Solien said he was proud of the efforts of his men.
The former PNG Orchids coach said he was confident all along that his side would win the championship.
“Even when the scores were level, I had the belief that we would win because we had the stamina and Highlands were tired in the middle,” he said. “We just couldn’t put our opportunities away. But we finally got them in the end.”
League chief executive Stanley Hondina thanked the teams that competed in the championships which were held on Saturday and Sunday.
“We did not have this championships over the last two years due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“But thanks to Telikom PNG for making the championships possible through its sponsorship.
“This is another pathway for players across the country.”