By JOE GURINA
CENTRAL province scooped four gold medals in the recently completed inaugural Papua Regional Youth Games in Alotau.
Abau won gold after thrashing their own comrade Hiri in the men’s volleyball grand final berth.
The team was mostly comprised of players from Gavuone village who proved too strong throughout the weeklong tournament.
They started as underdogs and finished off as champions.
Hiri won gold in the women’s volleyball while Rigo were the best side after claiming gold in the men’s soccer and netball competition.
Kairuku were predicted to scoop the men and women’s volleyball after their stunning performance however, the both teams went down in the major knock out playoffs.
Rigo stamped their authority in soccer after fielding a much experienced Koupa soccer association side who stood out in their performance all throughout the weeklong tournament.
Alotau, Esa’ala and Kiriwina threw in the challenge but were not enough to contain a good finish.
Goilala, who participated with a small contingent in soccer threw in some surprise after bowing out in the bronze medal playoff.
They secured two wins, one loss and one draw.
They gave a surprise win over Esa’ala (2-0) in their second match in the tournament and beat Esa’ala again in the first final play off (4-3).
Alotau threw in the challenge in netball that gave some headache to central province teams.
Hiri could not contain the aggression and smart play by the host team.
But that was not lived right through when Rigo outsmarted them in the grand final berth.
Team Sohe won the touch footy titles.
The games saw participation of 13 districts from across three provinces in the southern region in the codes of netball, soccer, volleyball and touch footy.
Director General of the National Youth Development Authority Joe Itaki described the Papua Regional Youth Games as a huge success.
Itaki said, given just three months to put it all together, he commended all involved and especially Milne Bay province for raising their hands to pioneer the games.
East New Britain will host the second regional games for the New Guinea Islands in Kokopo next year, 2013.
