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Sports |
SP Cup clash turns violent
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
A vicious attack on match referee
Richard Mathews prematurely ended what was an enthralling SP Cup
rugby league contest between the Wari Vele Raiders and the Pagini
Warriors at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday. The
East New Britain-based referee was hit around the neck and face
area by a Warriors player, a security guard and supporters,
knocking him out for several minutes as the crowd invaded the
field with about 15 minutes left before fulltime.
The guard from a well known security firm repeatedly beat Mathews
with a stick while he lay unconscious and fled with the rest of
the crowd as Police moved onto the grounds firing shots into the
air.
The match was awarded to the Raiders who were leading 16-12, so
far reports of the incident have been compiled and will be
forwarded to the national judiciary committee for action.
Spectators climbed over the fence from both the netball court and
PRL ends and through the gate in front of the grandstand and
charged at Matthews and the Raiders players who were retreating
towards the Raiders interchange bench.
Empty beer bottles and other objects were still hurled onto the
field even after Police and security guards cleared the spectators
before Mathews regained consciousness and called off the match.
The incident had escalated from verbal abuses at the referee into
an all out invasion as the Warriors were heavily penalised and had
forwards Ben Alphonse and Toxsi Owi sent to the sin bin for
separate offences in the second half.
It started just as the Raiders where awarded a penalty within
kicking distance after Warriors half back Lomex Numapo and captain
Porian Bal dislodged the ball in a two-man tackle on Raiders
fullback Leo Chris.
The incident marred what was a real arm wrestle contest where both
sides where locked 10-10 at halftime and 12-12 early in the second
half.
Also overshadowed was the brilliance of ever reliable Raiders
hooker Dairi Iageti who scored two sneaky but very smart dummy
half tries and Warriors winger Micheal Mark’s barnstorming runs.
Hardworking lock Jackie Kuman scored the other Raiders try in the
first half while replacement back Kore Kapia and five-eight
Dickson Komba crossed for the Warriors.
In the other matches around the country the Gurias handed out a
30-12 thrashing of the previously unbeaten Bulldogs in Kokopo, the
Lahanis did likewise 40-16 over the Mioks in Goroka while the
Muruks downed the Eagles 20-4 at Kagamuga.
After round four the Raiders still lead on 8 points, Lahanis (7),
Bulldogs (5), Muruks, Warriors, Gurias, Bombers (4), Eagles (3)
and Mioks (1).
 
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