2017

After the completion of game nine of round two over the weekend, Dwellers are sitting comfortably on top of the competition points ladder on 22 points from seven wins and one draw.

The Lae boys have scored 33 goals this season and only conceded five with a goal difference of 28.

The current standings:

Lae City Dwellers FC (22), Huawei PS United FC (16), Madang FC (16), Besta PNG United FC (10), Buang FC (7), Vitis Yamaros FC (1).

Games this Saturday will be played in Madang.

12 men’s and eight women’s teams took part in the Championships that ran from July 4-8.

Teams came from as far as Kavieng, Lae and Daru.

“We couldn’t be happier with how the whole event went. The games were entertaining; the officiating was high-quality and the spectator support was amazing.

“BFPNG is very proud to host sporting events like this that are family-friendly and fun to be a part of.

“It was a great dress rehearsal for the upcoming FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup that we are hosting in Port Moresby this September,” said Khalu.

In the grand final played on Saturday at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre, PMBL (1) def. PMBL (2) 94-89 in the men’s division.

To the women’s, NCDBL def. POMWBL (2) 81-60.

Men’s Semi-Finals:

Semi-Final #1: PMBL #1 127 def. KAVIENG 72

Semi-Final #2: PMBL #2 89 def. NCDBL 70

Men’s 3rd Place Playoff:

3rd Place Playoff: NCDBL 89 def. KAVIENG 84

Men’s National Championship:

Men’s Grand Final: PMBL #1 94 def. PMBL #2 89

2017 Men’s National Championships Tournament Most Valuable Player:

LLOYD WRIGHT - KAVIENG

In the first match of the triple header yesterday in Port Moresby, Dwellers def. Besta PNG United FC 2-0. In the match that followed, Buang def, Madang FC 1-0.

In main game of the day, PS United def. Vitis Yamaros FC 5-0.

The home side hit the front after eight minutes when quick hands allowed an unmarked Paul Wawa to dive over on the wing.

An error by the Hunters in their own half cost them.

The Bears made them pay through hooker Patrick Politoni who caught the defence napping and burrowed his way over the line to score.

Jamal Fogarty added the extras to put his side in the lead at 6-4 after 16 minutes.

The Bears further extended their lead in the 23rd minute courtesy of Matt White's barnstorming run to the try line carrying over four defenders with him.

Yamaros put the two time NSL champions under pressure in the opening exchanges coming close to scoring twice through Wipsie Dibewewe and Pais Yepei.

But keeper Ronald Warisan was up to the task and determined not to let anything pass him.

The Dwellers were able to weather the early storm and eventually found their rhythm.

After several attempts, star striker Raymond Gunemba eventually found the back of the net to put his side in front in the 27^th minute of play.

The double header at Bisini in the nation’s capital will start at 12:30pm between Besta PNG United FC and Vitis Yamaros FC.

This will be followed by the Huawei PS United and the Madang United FC fixture at 3pm.

In Lae at the PNG Football Academy, Buang FC is scheduled to go up against the undefeated Lae City Dwellers. This match will start at 3pm.

(Photo credit: PNG Football Association) 

The event will start next Tuesday at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre in Port Moresby.

On the men’s side, Pool ‘A’ will feature Alotau, Kerema, PMBL #1, PMBL #3, NCDBA and Tubusereia #2, while Pool ‘B’ has Central 3X3, Daru, Kavieng, Lae, PMBL #2 and Tubusereia #1.

In the women’s competition, Pool ‘A’ will stage Daru, Kerema, POMWBL #1 and NCDBA, while Pool ‘B’ lists Kavieng, Lae, POMWBL #2 and Tubusereia.

The tournament format will see teams play round-robin pool games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, before final matches get underway on Friday.

Rellie Kaputin won the long jump with her fifth jump of the competition, leapfrogging Australian Jessie Harper who had led from the first round.

There were no records this time for Kaputin but she did have the satisfaction of being the only athlete to record six legal jumps, taking off behind the board every time.

Simbai Kaspar was the surprise winner of the men’s 5000m in a time of 15mins 50 seconds, which is just a shade outside his personal best of 15min 49sec set in 2015.

Fellow Simbu athlete Abel Siune won silver in the U20 men’s 5000m.

Polling started just before 10am and was held at the Lawes Memorial Church for the 1059 eligible voters of Babaka.

Present today were also International Election Observers, who have been visiting different villages in the district to witness polling.

Polling team officials said despite the late start, polling proceeded trouble free throughout the day.

Meanwhile, nearby villages like Hula and Irupara have all completed their polling. Up next will be Kamali (Thursday, June 29), Makerupu (Friday, June 30) and Kalo (Saturday, July 1 and Monday, July 3).