Tarangau bag cup

Sports

By MELTON PAIS
TARANGAU Two edged the Hohola Flies 24-22 to claim their second Port Moresby Rugby League Super Nines title yesterday at the National Football Stadium second oval.
The Mineral Resources Development Company-sponsored tournament saw the Royals women bag their first PRL pre-season title with a handy 34-12 victory over the Paga Panthers.
PNG Orchids fullback Joan Kuman played a leading role for the Bang 36-sponsored side, crossing for four tries in a player-of-the-match performance.
Last year’s MRDC women’s champions Hohola Flies went down to Port Moresby South girls in the plate final.
In the men’s cup decider, the Hekari-backed Tarangau pipped the Flies by two points to retain the cup they won last year and in the process received K5000 while the runners-up got K3500.
Tarangau scored five tries and converted two in their title-winning effort with the cup heading back to 9-Mile.
The Flies led 12-10 at halftime but had no answers for Tarangau’s onslaught in the second stanza.
The tournament was played under the theme ‘Lukautim Mama Graun’ (look after your land).
Royals women received K3000 while Panthers got K2000.
Royals men received K3000 for winning the plate after beating West 10-4 in the final.
The women’s final featured two sides packed with Orchids players .
Kuman stole the show with her speed and anticipation leading to four four-pointers for the Simbu woman who was especially effective on kick returns.
In the men’s plate division, Royals Two with the help of Port Moresby Vipers back Ezra Gotuno managed to outhustle West while in the bowl division, Kone Storm Two beat Tarangau One 12-8.
Mineral Resources Development Company chairman John Kapi Nato, who presented the trophy to the champions Tarangau, commended the organisers for their efforts in running the five-day tournament.
He promised PRL chairman Dr James Naipao and his board that he would support the tournament again next year with K50,000.