| Sports |
Bulldogs raid too much for rival
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
The Brian Bell Bulldogs kicked off their SP Cup preparations with
a scrappy 24-10 trial victory over the Wari Vele Raiders at Lloyd
Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
In rain-affected conditions the Bulldogs scored four tries, all
converted, before withstanding a late Raiders comeback.
The reserves bench was kept busy as opposing coaches Chris Enara
(Bulldogs) and Richard Wagambie continuously rotated players to
assess combinations.
It took only two minutes for the Bulldogs to get on the board
after centre Joshua Poria collected a lobbed pass and scored in
the right corner.
But after that and for most parts of the first half, the
conditions prevented free-flowing football with both sides guilty
of numerous dropped balls and handling errors.
However, the crowd was half compensated for with torrid forwards
exchanges between Bulldogs hardmen Thomas Ninkama, Roy Tela, Aaron
Mulunga, Jackie Kuman, Simon Tonge and Raiders Luke Kolalio, Nixon
Kolo, Bal Kamane and Andrew Norman.
The Raiders hit back in the 24th minute when Leroy Muriki scored
off a blind-side move orchestrated by halfback Geno Ralani and
reserve forward Jackie Kuman.
Bulldogs led 6-4 at the break.
Three minutes into the second half, reserve forward Andrew Mckiwa
went in under the posts to extend the Bulldogs lead to 12-4.
Four minutes later five-eighth Jessie Joe caught the Raiders
defence offguard when he took a quick tap from a penalty close to
the 40m line and weaved his way past the cover defence to score.
The score line was further extended to 24-4 in the 72nd minute
when fullback Burau Burau busted the Raiders line a few metres
over halfway and had too much pace for the Raiders' chasers.
The Raiders scored two late consolation tries in the last four
minutes.
All of the Bulldogs tries were converted by Benjamin John (1/1)
and Lazen Marabe (3/3) while the Raiders failed with all their
attempts.
 
|
