Tarangau reign

By PARKER TAMBUA
ALEX Alungi, Joshua Steven and Joel Gena scored a try each to help Tarangau beat Isitora Broncos 18-4 in the Southern Confederate Championship final in Port Moresby yesterday.
The championship at the Oil Search National Football Stadium saw Port Moresby Rugby Football League premiers Tarangau beat Koiari’s Dona Minas 20-0 and Broncos defeat Rigo’s Kwikila Dragons 18-12.
Dona Minas and Dragons bowed out while Tarangau and Siouposa Rugby League’s Broncos advanced to the final of the day-long Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League-sanctioned tournament.
Converted tries to Alungi, Steven and Gena saw Tarangau hold an 18-0 until the 73rd minute when Broncos winger Martin Kouoru crossed over for a consolation four-pointer.
Sioposa Rugby League president Joe Wakiva commended Isitora for putting up a brave fight against the favourites.
“Congratulations to Tarangau, they played well and deserved the win,” he said.
“This is their home ground and they are here every year, so it gave them an advantage.
“Despite the loss, Isitora were thrilled as it was the first time for them to play in such a facility.
“Like other rural leagues, we run our competitions with limited resources. We don’t have access to facilities like Port Moresby teams such as Tarangau.
“Tarangau are fortunate to have acccess to all that and their performance certainly proved that in the final.
“But we will come back stronger next time.
“Hopefully, we can have new facilities in Gulf in order to raise the standard of rugby league in the province.”
PNGRFL Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi also congratulated Tarangau on their win.
Meanwhile, PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka told The National last night that from next year, the winners of the national club championship would represent the country in the Melanesian Cup against Fiji’s premiers.