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Sports |
Lahanis stay on top
Goroka team in close
26-24 win against Bulldogs
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
Winger Alphonse Kapil scored two
tries to enable the Bintangor Lahanis to record a thrilling 26-24
victory over the Brian Bell Bulldogs at the Lloyd Robson Oval in
Port Moresby yesterday.
The Bulldogs had several chances to grab a late winner but came
away empty handed as the Lahanis outscored them scored five tries
to four to maintain the SP Cup competition lead.
In the other matches the Muruks humbled the Raiders 30-2, the
Gurias jumped to second with an 18-6 victory over the Bombers
while the Mioks upstaged the Warriors 23-17.
Bulldogs pair Charles Onguglo and Suckling Danege went close to
scoring early on, as the Lahanis forwards orchestrated a brilliant
blindside move from halfway enabling captain George Aba to shrug
off a couple of defenders to score (18th).
Following a Lazen Marabe burst down the left touchline, captain
Jessie Joe scored off a short Benjamin John pass to level the
scores at 4-4 (25th).
The Bulldogs forced a line drop out at the end of the very next
set of tackles, then Joe did a pirouette before finding a flying
Brian Apo who ran around Lahanis fullback Jeffrey Mausi to take
the lead 10-4.
Mack Siwi had an immediate impact coming off the bench as he
combined with five-eighth Casey Frank to send Kapil over in the
corner for his first try (34th).
Leading 10-8 into the second half, Joe caught the Lahanis unaware
with a quick tap penalty, then linked with Lazen Marabe who
created an overlap for fullback Burau Burau to cross in the corner
(46th).
Emmanuel Palme brilliantly converted from the touchline for a 16-8
lead.
But a minute later, the Bulldogs went to sleep from the kick-off
as the ball took a cruel bounce into the hands of Lahanis lock
Sigfred Gande who brushed off one defender to score and trail
14-16.
Two minutes later Frank outpaced the defence to put the Lahanis in
front 18-16, then Joe leveled the scores with a penalty kick
(60th) before the Lahanis retained the lead 20-18 following an
Anton Kui penalty kick.
With over 10 minutes to go, a swerving Siwi bomb bounced favorably
into the hands of Kapil with Kui converting for a handy 26-18.
John scored from dummy half to trail 24-26 but the Lahanis
withstood a late Bulldogs surge to run out winners.
After round 12 the Lahanis (19), Raiders, Gurias (16), Bulldogs
(15), Mioks (14), Muruks (13), Bombers, Eagles (8) and Warriors
(3).
 
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