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Sports |
Close win for Raiders
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
The Wari Vele Raiders
scored seven points in the last two minutes to snatch a scrappy
but thrilling 17-10 victory over the Agmark Gurias at the Lloyd
Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
Five-eight Rodney Kipa potted a field goal from close range with
over a minute left to break a 10-all deadlock, then centre Jared
Haoda finished off a blindside break on the stroke of fulltime.
In the other matches around the country the Lahanis maintain top
spot following a 28-21 home victory over the Eagles, Mioks 22 beat
Bombers 8 in Wabag while the Muruks proved too strong for the
Warriors winning 24-4 in Madang.
Despite the victory in Port Moresby, Raiders coach Richard
Wagambie was bitterly unimpressed largely due to the fact that his
side conceded 19 turnovers, one of which led directly to the
Gurias second try in the second half.
“We have to change our attitudes, we are pretenders (at this
stage)”, he summed up.
“We train really well but we are not employing it on the field”.
The Gurias could have scored first but fullback Lik Delly was
pulled short down short of the line by Kipa in the 15th minute, a
few tackles later prop Rodney Pora lost control of the ball over
the line.
Raiders prop Nixon Kolo looked dangerous with the ball early and
his efforts paid off when he busted the line off a short pass from
lock Joshua Nablu, committed one defender before passing to
halfback Geno Ralani who juggled the ball before posting the first
try in the 18th minute.
Four minutes later leading 6-0 Raiders captain Luke Kolalio gave
away a hold down penalty near halfway.
A few tackles from the ensuing penalty Gurias five-eight Rolly
Matalau combined with centre Menzie Yere to send winger Colin
Aruna over despite protests from the opposition of a shepherd.
The try was unconverted but the Raiders increased their lead in
the 31st minute when hooker Dairi Iageti and Ralani exposed the
Gurias lack of numbers on the blindside by sending Kolo over.
The second half did not reach any great heights as both teams
continually turned over possession but held steady on their own
line to deny their opposition from scoring.
Gurias Yere, second rowers Frank Jim and Obert Hondole and props
Pora and Channel Aquila were strong in patches while Jackie Kuman,
Kolo, Kolalio and substitute Philip Kumye really muscled up.
Substitute Benson Kanini dived over from dummy half to lock the
scores at 10-10 seven minutes from fulltime before Kipa’s field
goal and Haoda’s try sealed the win for the Raiders.
After round six the Lahanis (11), Raiders (10), Bulldogs (9),
Muruks (8), Mioks, Warriors (5), Eagles, Gurias and Bombers (4).
 
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