PNG Cambridge Cup

[LeagueXIII]

Is this competition still played?

 

[mikail-eagle]

From memory I think it was last played early 2000's... Probably 2003 or 2004.

Growing up it was a competition we all looked forward to. I think the growing and expending of the Digicel Cup caused it from ceasing.

 

[LeagueXIII]

I recall the scores being in RLWeek back in the 1980's. Recently I purchased a 1988 PNG v Gt Britain test programme which had the advertisement for the competition.

From memory wasn't it all the champion clubs from each province in a knock out competition?

 

[LeagueXIII]

I have seen mentioned the Final for the following years:

1994 Port Moresby Defence vs Goroka Tarangau

1999 Port Moresby Souths vs Mt Hagen Raiders

 

[mikail-eagle]

From memory wasn't it all the champion clubs from each province in a knock out competition?

Yes correct. The Champion clubs from each of the Provinces that had a League Competition running which was affiliated to PNGRFL.

I grew up in a Province that had 2 separate Competitions and after their respective Grand Finals the winners would play off for the right to represent the Province.

The winner progressed to play the Champions of the nearest Province and so forth.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Well looks like this Competition is making a come back.

https://postcourier.com.pg/pngrfl-to-revive-club-championship-concept/

PNGRFL to revive Club Championship Concept

The PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) will revive the Club Championship format after 21 years being dormant.

The PNGRFL Development Office in the New Guinea Islands Confederation has confirmed that the popular Cambridge Cup format 1980's and 1990's revived for registered Rugby League Premier Clubs in the Country to participate in their respective confederate regions.

All this was made possible by the PNGRFL who have secured a new sponsor to carry forward the revived concept for all Rugby League premier clubs to take part in.

In 1998, the East New Britain Rugby League's Kokopo Muruks, representing their Province and the New Guinea Islands Confederation were the last Team to win the Competition before it died out.

This year the New Guinea Islands Confederation has 6 registered Leagues from the 4 Provinces in the region.

East New Britain - Kokopo Rugby Football League
West New Britain - Kimbe Rugby Football League
New Ireland - Kavieng Rugby Football League, Lihir Rugby Football League & Namatanai Rugby Legaue
Bougainville- Buka Rugby Football League

East New Britain will be represented by Takubar Brothers.
West New Briatin will be represented by KCRS Steelers
Bougainville will be represented by Malasang Warriors
New Ireland Province will have a playoff on Nov 1-2 after Kavieng and Lihir complete their Grand Finals on October 26 to see which Team will represent the Province.

The next elimination leg will take place in Kokopo from November 7 -10. The winner from the 4 team Competition will represent the Confederation in Lae for the next phase against Champion Clubs from the other 3 Confederations.

The other 3 Confederations (Southern, Northern & Highlands Confederation) should also be having their elimination in the weeks to come.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Still going in November. Does rugby league ever stop in PNG?

On the domestic scene, how many leagues are in PNG? What would be the 5 strongest?

Also is there anywhere I could find information, clubs, premiers etc on Port Moresby league?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Still going in November. Does rugby league ever stop in PNG?

On the domestic scene, how many leagues are in PNG? What would be the 5 strongest?

Also is there anywhere I could find information, clubs, premiers etc on Port Moresby league?

Most of the league competitions in PNG start late May or early June and therefore drag on into September and October.

From memory I think last year there were 42 leagues throughout the Country which were affiliated to the PNGRFL. These leagues are split into the 4 zones or confederates in which they fall under.

The Southern Confederate is for the southern tip of PNG which includes Port Moresby.
The Northern Confederate takes Care of the Northern Coastline from Lae upwards.
The Highlands Confederate for all Provinces in the Highlands region from Goroka and inland.
The Islands Confederate for all the individual Island Provinces including New Britain and Bougainville.

Port Moresby would have to have the biggest competition.
Lae and Kokopo would be next followed closely behind by Goroka in the Eastern Highlands and Mt Hagen in the Western Highlands.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Who won the PM grand final this year?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Who won the PM grand final this year?

Won by Brothers 15-14 against Hohola Flies

https://www.thenational.com.pg/ragi-kicks-grand-final-winner-for-brothers/


Ragi kicks grand-final winner for Brothers
October 14, 2019 The National Sports
Article Views: 105

QUINTAN Ragi kicked a field goal to help Brothers edge Hohola Flies 15-14 in the Port Moresby Rugby Football League A-Grade grand final at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
Brothers picked up K20,000 and the SP Cup, their fourth premiership since 1979.
They also earned the right to compete at the Southern Club Championships in Port Moresby later this month. Flies settled for K10,000 and the runners-up trophy.
Interchange back Quintan Ragi kicked the field goal in the 69th minute after the scores were deadlocked (14-14). Ragi was named the man of the match.
Flies’ Jezzrel Roy was named the player of the year for his outstanding and consistent performances.
Brothers were leading 14-8 but Flies hooker Presley Soto gathered a grubber and crossed under the uprights. Fullback Gabby Taune converted the extras.
Flies went into halftime leading 8-6, thanks to unconverted tries from Taune and Winston Winnie. Brothers’ points came in the form of a converted try to Noni Bomai.
Brothers had a bigger forward pack but the Flies used their speedy backline to compensate for their smaller teammates up front.
Brothers coach Zebulon Ragi said: “We had the experience but the players needed guidance so that was what we did and the trainers delivered the message well and it paid dividends in the end.
“I congratulate the players as they deserved the win.”

 

[mikail-eagle]

The Finals of the PNG National Club Championships kicked off on Thursday in Lae.

The 4 Club Champions from the 4 Confederates met in Lae for the Semi Finals and then with the Grand Finals today.

The 4 finalists were;
1. Kui Raiders of Mt Hagen representing the Highlands Confederate.
2. 14 B Pirates of Lae representing the Northern Confederate.
3. Port Moresby Brothers representing the Southern Confederate
4. Takubar Brothers of Kokopo representing the Islands Confederate

 

[mikail-eagle]

In the Semi-finals on Thursday
14 B Pirates 28 def Takubar Brothers 4
Pom Brothers 16 defeated Kui Raiders 0

Both winners played in the Grand Final today while the loosers played in the 3rd/4th play off

 

[mikail-eagle]

In the finals today;

3rd/4th Play off : Kui Raiders 15 def Takubar Brothers 14

Grand Final: 14B Pirates 12 def Pom Brothers 10

Congratulations to 14B who are no National Club Champions of PNG.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Are there any teams in the competition from Bougainville, also are there plans to play a Fijian team for the Melanesian Cup as has happened in the past with Lae Tigers and Nadi Aviators?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Are there any teams in the competition from Bougainville, also are there plans to play a Fijian team for the Melanesian Cup as has happened in the past with Lae Tigers and Nadi Aviators?

Bougainville was represented by Malasang Warriors in the Islands Confederate Championships against Champion Teams from the other Islands Leagues in Kokopo, Kimbe and Kavieng.

Kokopo's Takubar Brothers won the that tournament and represented the Islands Confederate in Lae.

 

[LeagueXIII]

I the Melanesian Cup still going to be played. I don't think it was played for this year.