| Sports |
Muruks beat Eagles in a tough SP Cup
encounter in Lae
MABEY & Johnson Muruks came from
behind to beat Besta Eagles 22-10 in a tough Round 12 of SP Cup
competition in Lae yesterday.
Eagles were leading 10-8 at halftime but errors in the second half
allowed Muruks to capitalise to win the game.
Muruks coach Jack Kereme said the boys improved on their first
half performance and stuck to their game plan.
“We complete our first set of six and played an open game,
floating the ball around and backing each other up that wore out
our opponents,” Kereme said
“We also improved on our work rate by defending well and did many
hit-ups,” he said.
Besta Eagles coach Joe Mcconnor blamed their loss on the ball
handling errors which Muruks capitalised on to win.
“We dropped one too many balls and the players did not play
according to our set game plan, they played individually, had no
combination,” Mcconnor said.
“We will need to work extra hard during training this week to cut
down on our errors in attack and in defence,” he added.
Eagles were the first to cross for an unconverted try from a good
ball movement.
Props Stanley Akinu, Kiap Poke, Jack Kilip were in the thick of
action making strong runs up front and kept penetrating into the
Muruks defensive line when in possession of the ball.
Muruks forwards Simon Young, Joseph Omai, Bon Wesis, and
man-of-the-match George Omai, Malachy Owen and Andiki Andrew kept
a tight cover defence and denied Eagles any room to move.
Muruks replied with a good try from a backline movement to put
winger Terry Toa through an opening in the corner to score but his
try was also unconverted but they levelled the score 4-4.
Muruks scored again from a good set of play which saw lock Malachy
Owen race over for another unconverted try and a 8-4 lead before
Eagles centre Joseph Tei found an opening to ground the ball to
level the score at 8-8.
Just before halftime Muruks were penalised for an infringement and
Eagles five-eighth Dion Atie collected the extras to take them to
the break with a slender 10-8 lead.
A lashing from coach Kereme helped set Muruks into motion to play
a more coordinated football and cross over through five-eighth
Stanley Hondina and Owen converted to sail away to a comfortable
16-10 lead.
The Kanges allowed errors to creep into their game plan and
allowed the Southern Highlanders to register two unconverted tries
through centre Charlie Wabo and fullback Felix Tangue to wrap up
the game 22-10.
 
|
