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Sports |
Field goal win for Bulldogs
By DAVID KAPI
A last-minute field goal by Brian Bell Bulldogs halfback Brian
Apo has earned the Dogs two competition points in a thrilling SP
Cup encounter at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on
Sunday.
It was a nail-biting finish at 18-all but the successful kick of
the Tarangau player sank the hearts of Besta Eagles players 40
seconds from fulltime.
Winger Steven Neng and half-back Skipper Mel were heroes but
became villains in the space of three minutes before fulltime
with two unforced errors that allowed Bulldogs back into the
game.
Bulldogs made sure of the conversion to level the score at
18-all before the field goal sealed Eagles fate.
But in Lae it was a different story as linesman Johnson Kaupa
became embroiled in a brawl with supporters of LBC Bombers in
the Mabey & Johnson Muruks-LBC Bombers match which Muruks won
6-12 on Sunday.
Kaupa, who is a senior referee in Lae, was running the lines for
the SP Cup match as abuses and threats were hurled at him by LBC
supporters, and he, in turn, vented his frustration on LBC
Bombers officials near the sideline.
Kaupa left abandoned his post while the game was in progress and
confronted one official and exchanged punches with him.
He later picked on another official Victor Kauga on the
sideline, accusing him of abusing and threatening him (Kaupa)
for being biased in one decision he made.
Soon after the game, Kaupa created another commotion outside the
grandstand and a fight broke out between himself and some
Bombers supporters.
The situation was brought under control by police and security
guards.
Lae league referees president Kelly Yawip could not be reached
after the game to comment on the incident.
In other matches elsewhere, Toyota Mioks under new coach Chris
Itam meant business by defeating Wari Vele Raiders 24-12 at
Porgera, and in Kokopo, Agmark Guria beat Pagini Warriors 26-12.
In Port Moresby, Eagles were set for the second consecutive win
but winger Neng caused an infringement which allowed the
Bulldogs to level the score at 18-all.
With clock ticking away to full time, Apo made sure of the field
goal to snatch victory from the Eagles.
The Western Highlanders were first to register points through
captain Francis Ray after gaining a valuable metres to put
Eagles in front.
Bulldogs hit back through Roy Tela who bulldozed his way over
for a soft try. Hooker Benjamin John collected another try for
Bulldogs before half-back Brian Apo displayed his clean pair of
heels to leave his opponent at his wake in the 50-metre dash to
score before winger Neng crossed over for the Eagles to take the
score 12-8 to half time.
In the second half, the game could have gone either way before
David Ako and Thomas Atep scored for the Eagles while Vali Kapa
and fullback Burau Burau visited the tryline for the Dogs to win
19-18.
 
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