The Highlands Confederate has collected their second Kumul Petroleum National Schools Rugby League Championship title for 2021, winning the Under 16s Division in a tight final in Port Moresby on Thursday.
In what seemed like deja-vu, the Under 16s Highlands Confederate team faced the Northern Confederation in the age group Final just a day after the Under 14s Highlands side had done the same thing. Unlike the Under 14s Final however, no tries were scored between either the Highlands or Northern sides in the Under 16s Final, with only a single field goal separating the two teams.
On their way to the Final, the Highlands team only had one win, defeating the New Guinea Islands side 6 – 0, whilst losing in close matches to Northern and Southern Confederates. Northern on the other hand proceeded undefeated until the final match of the tournament.
Papua New Guinea’s premier Schools competition will feature four divisions in 2021, Under 14s Boys, Under 16s Boys, Under 18s Boys and Under 18s Girls, with representative teams from the four PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Confederations (Northern, Southern, New Guinea Islands and Highlands) taking part in each.
RESULTS:
New Guinea Islands 10 defeated Southern 4
Northern 12 defeated Highlands 10
Highlands 6 defeated New Guinea Islands 0
Northern 20 defeated Southern 10
Northern 10 defeated New Guinea Islands 4
Southern 16 defeated Highlands 14
Third Place Play-Off:
New Guinea Islands 16 defeated Southern 0
Grand Final:
Highlands 1 – 0 Northern
