Tournament successful

THE inaugural Sepik Agmark Nines rugby league tournament final went right down to the wire with Port Moresby sides QPR Colts and Acatech Storms drawing 4-4 after extra time at Pora Oval in Wewak.
Colts were declared winners on the first try ruling.
Tournament coordinator Bradley Simon told The National yesterday that it was an entertaining tournament which featured eight local teams.
Two of the local sides, Maprik’s Kwarumbe Api and Sepik Tenkiles, reached quarterfinals before they bowed out.
Simon said 16 teams had been divided into four pools. Each team played three matches in the pool stage before the top-two teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinals.
“It was a very entertaining final which featured a number of Digicel Cup stars and local unknown talents,” he said.
“The two Port Moresby teams finished the tournament on a high.
“It was hard to separate them with scores locked at 4-4.
“They were given 10 minutes of extra time but no points were scored.
“We added another three minutes and still couldn’t find a winner.
“So we chose the winner based on the first try.”
Simon said the idea behind the tournament was for local talents in the area to gain exposure.
“To see Digicel Cup players like Thompson Teteh (Vipers), the Wemin brothers Ben (Vipers) and Tony (Wigmen), Bland Abavu and former stars like Lawrence Kuso play against some unknown talents in the Sepik region was a big bonus for the game,” he said.
“I believe the tournament achieved its purpose.
“These local players have learnt a lot and that’s going to contribute positively to the Sepik Pride’s Digicel Cup bid.
“I was also thrilled to see Kwarumbe and Tenkiles reach the quarterfinals.”