Warapen Storm claim first title in Avi women’s league

By GIBSON TORASO
AVI Settlers’ Rugby League Association in Western Highlands held its first women’s grand final yesterday when Warapen Storm beat Waghi Bulldogs 2-0  to claim the prize money.
In a tough affair, the teams were scoreless, until a penalty in the last quarter by Angela Monai gave her team the win.
Storm walked away with K3,000 and the recognition as the first team to win the women’s competition.
The best player award was shared by Roselynn Sapu and Sala Akai.
Chairman of the women’s league Gibson Kandapol said he was pleased to see women from their community playing rugby league and anticipated a bigger competition next year.
Meanwhile, former Western Highlands premier Philip Kapal, when officially kicking off the grand final, presented K1,000 as a contribution to the prize money saying sports would help promote peace in the local communities in Mt Hagen and the province.
He told the players to abstain from illegal activities and to be good sportswomen.
“Abstain from unlawful activities and be good sportswomen so that the little ones coming up will follow your footsteps,” he said.
Kandapol said the next season would start in August and finish early next year.