Goroka Rugby Archives Sports Monday 21st, January, 2002 Goroka Kilituas win Sevens Cup GOROKA is the new national sevens rugby champion. The Goroka Kilituas One team ensured the national sevens Cup travelled with them up the Highlands Highway when they came from behind to snatch a thrilling 29-22 win over favourites Port Moresby Boromas at the SCRUM Oval in Lae on Saturday. The national sevens — minus last year’s winner Daru Stingrays — was a showpiece for other smallers centres. Buka, New Ireland, Rabaul and Goroka stood out against heavyweights Lae and Port Moresby. Daru withdrew last Friday due to transportation problems. In the Plate grand final, Lae Tiger Sharks beat Port Moresby Gaigai’s 32-19 to complete the rout of the Capital teams. In the Bowl final, New Ireland, skippered by former Pukpuk Jeff Homerang and beefed up by PNG Barbarian Steven McNamara, stopped fellow newcomers Buka 27-12. The Cup would have made the plane trip down to Port Moresby had it not been for a try after the hooter. A Boromas player appeared on his way to sealing the match under the Kilitua’s uprights. But a bone-crunching tackle resulted in the ball being jolted free. Referee Jack Takavis put down a scrum with the feed to the Kilituas just as the fulltime hooter went in the background. The Kilituas then won possession and booted the ball downfield. The winded Boromas were left flatfooted by the turn of play as three jubilant Kilituas steamed down on the bouncing ball. The first player reeled in the ball and grounded it for the match-winning try under the Boroma uprights. Goroka coach Gamu Tete said the win should lift the profile of rugby union in the rugby league-dominated province. He said it is a timely boost for them as they were focusing on the juniors this year. “We have tried and it worked out very well. We have always been treated as second fiddle by Port Moresby and Lae where the code is much played there,” Tete said. “It is usually Port Moresby and Lae in such tournaments but we proved their critics wrong. It is also a turning point for other smaller centers to improve and they too can be the winners.” Tete also paid tribute to the hard work of the all-women GRFU executive of president Josepha Vau, secretary Velda Feka and treasurer Lavy Andy. He said the three women have proven that women can handle rugby. He said their devotion and dedication to the game has indeed paid off and they were really happy for those achievements. The National Rugby Sevens Championship started on Friday where each team played each other twice and then the finals were played on Saturday, witnessed by a bumper crowd, including the national selectors. The selectors will name a PNG Pukpuks team for the IRB World Sevens in Brisbane. The Kilituas progressed into the Cup final after thrashing Mount Hagen Heemers Two 27-nil. New Ireland One beat Mount Hagen Heemers One 24-14 while Buka set up the Bowls final meet by defeating New Ireland Seagulls Two 17-7 to walk into the Bowl finals. The Kilituas were well served by Andrew Mark, Bernard Noibano and the Iko brothers Moses and Steven. Desmond Tete, Jacky Tokam and Kevin Tom also played their hearts out. For the Boromas, veterans Ian Leklek, Gabriel Tika, Paul Pomoso and Leroy Muriki were in the thick of the game. Goroka 29: B. Noibano, M. Iko, J. Tokam, Tinai, D. Tete tries, S. Iko 2 goals beat Port Moresby 22: I. Leklek, L. Muriki 2, S. Vegogo tries, Leklek goal. [Go to thetop] Copyright, 2001, Post-Courier Online. Useof this siteis governed byour Legal Notice.
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