Titans claim inaugural Super Nines honours

 Eastern Highland based O-Wan Titans won the recent Super Nines rugby league tournament shutting out Morobe Tigers 34-6 earlier in the month at the Lae Rugby League ground to claim the cup and K3,000 in cash.

The Super Nines tournament which started last month was sponsored by the Lae Biscuit Company who are also the sponsor of the Lae Tigers in the Digicel Cup competition. The tournament was used as the recruiting competition.

Titans from Obura-Wonenara came with their most experienced players in former Kumul utlility Glen Nami and coach Mera Minne Kipefa, who is also the local MP, and were part of the 16 teams who played in a round robin format.

The Titans started off strongly against their Lae-based Papuan compound rivals when winger Aaron David bagged the first try. Pasu Avani collected another try two minutes later.

The Tigers picked up their intensity through their Digicel Cup players in hooker Michael Gawi and Ate Bine Wabo, however Avani had the last laugh in the first half when he danced his way over for his second try on the halftime for a 16-0 lead.

Wabo restored some lost pride for the home side when he grabbed the Tigers’ first try.

The match seesawed before Nami, hooker Stanley Heriso and David raced in for the last three tries for the Titans.

Kipefa attributed the victory to discipline and true sportsmanship which he stressed to his players since their inclusion in the Ipatas Cup last month.

A 20-man team was selected from the tournament and will be coached by former Goroka Lahanis forward John Milba and played a trial with the Tigers over the weekend.