Cats finish 3rd in Port Douglas 7s

The OTML Tabubil Cats rugby team returned to Tabubil early this week, finishing third in the 2014 Port Douglas Sevens tournament.

The defending champions returned to the Port Douglas Sports Complex in the hope of winning the tournament a second time and become $5,000 richer but were stop short in their tracks by Cairns team, Aspire who put an end to the Cats' winning streak.


Nudgee College schoolboy Gissua in action at

Port Douglas 7s (photo used with permission

courtesy of Vili Photography)

Aspire proceeded on into the cup grand final but lost to Fijian team and tournament-newcomers, Island Breeze who were crowned the 2014 champions.

The Cats played and won all three pool games convincingly and qualified for the Cup semi final but lost in extra time.

"That loss is so heart-breaking! We had the game only to lose it in extra time," said a gutted coach, Anthony Aruha.

"However, I must commend the boys for trying hard at every opportunity during each game. But I guess in the end, the experience of the other teams gave them an advantage over us under pressure."

The Cats' team this year did not have the bulk of last year's winning team but was made up of a 50-50 mix of seasoned rugby players and league converts. More interestingly, it did feature two schoolboys who were part of the Plate-winning team at the Scots College Schoolboys Rugby Sevens tournament in March last year.


Paul Marita, Christian Aruha and Bubac Wakpi in line-out
(photo used with permission courtesy of Vili Photography)

"The team this year included Nudgee College schoolboy, Jim Gissua and Tabubil Secondary School student Shane Haro. Both students played outstanding football in this tournament. To play great football at this level - I can say these two definitely have bright futures ahead," said Aruha.

Despite the loss, Aruha is looking forward to the upcoming Scots College Schools Rugby Sevens tournament in Sydney and possibly one or two national sevens tournaments in the country during the year.

Aruha thanked the Papua New Guinea community and friends in Cairns who turned up to support the team especially the Wakpi family, Rose Nupiri and family, Janet Koek and family, Tuisolia family, Wayne and Kathy Booth, Brittany Booth, Julia Auakai, Nicole Monaluk, Adam Calcraft and Sue Carroll of FNQR, and the Cairns Queenslander Hotel.

Aruha also thanks OTML CEO and MD Nigel Parker, Wayne Dorgan and Pacific MMI Insurance, Dr. Jane Thomason and JTAI, Gazebo Club, Hastings Deering, Tabubil Golf Club and the people of Tabubil for their continued support of the Cats.