| Sports |
Eagles bombed it again
By DAVID KAPI
The Kunjin Mt Hagen Eagles
bombed a match-wining opportunity in the dying seconds for Wari
Vele Raiders to hold on to a narrow 24-20 victory in the SP Cup
rugby league competition at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby
yesterday.
Eagles rake Samuel Kiap dropped an easy flick pass from Steven
Neng right in front of the uprights to deny them certain victory.
It started from a five-eighth Dion Aiye chip-and-chase in the
Raiders 35 metre line which he re-gathered and then passed on Neng
who then flicked back to three flying Eagles but only for Kiap to
drop the ball cold dead without pressure from the Raiders.
This is the second time the Eagles have gone down broken-hearted
after a spirited performance when they lost 19-18 to Bulldogs in
round eight with unforced errors and silly play.
The Eagles were first to register points in the 23rd minute
through prop forward Kiap Poke who bulldozed his way into heavy
traffic to land under the post for Skipper Mel to add the extras
to lead 6-0.
However, quick successive tries, which were converted, to winger
Wilfred Henry and replacement forward Jerry Kitan in the space of
four minutes under the post saw Raiders lead 12-6 at halftime.
In the second half a Gimpao Keimelo 40/20 paid dividend for
fullback Iamo Tau to score in the corner to extend the lead to
16-6.
Man of the match Wilfred Henry showed clean pair of heels to
outpace two Eagles to score through an intercept from a David Ako
pass from his own 40m line and two other tries came from Kawage
Gagma and Iamo Tau while Thomson Atep John Kupie and Samuel Kiap
scored for the Eagles.
Eagles skipper Francis Ray and Raiders Kawage Gagma were
sin-binned for technical foul plays in the 27th and 49th minutes
respectively.
 
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