| Sports |
Muruks adapt to wet Lae to win
By SAMPSON BONAI
FAVOURITES Bintangor slipped further down the SP Cup rugby league
competition points ladder after they were beaten 24-4 by Mabey &
Johnson Muruks in muddy and slippery condition in Lae yesterday.
Muruks led 8-4 at halftime and then breached the opposition
tryline three times to run away with the much deserved win.
Coach Joe Kereme was pleased with the outcome of the game and
attributed their win to adapting better to the wet conditions.
“We had better ball security because the boys had trained hard
under wet conditions and adjusted well to the wet season in Lae,”
Kereme said.
Lahanis captain Nigel Hukula accepted that they did not prepare to
play in muddy and slippery conditions, adding that the players did
not stay focussed on their game plan.
“We started well in the first half but the slippery conditions
cost us, we were not completing our sets of six when in possession
of the ball,” he said.
Muruks shot to the front in the opening minutes of the game from a
good backline movement which saw the ball passed through three
pairs of hands before winger Mathew Puke found a gap and crossed
for a try to take a 4-0 lead after the conversion failed.
Man of the match prop Simon Young was in the thick of things
leading the young charges Andrew Andiki, Erick Waina, Nobert Kembo,
Sond Owil and Malachy Owen to probe for openings in the opposition
defence.
Lahanis hit back with a try through captain hooker Nigel Hukula
while Walter Hasu, Junior Ropra, Paulus Mondo and Sigfred Gande
kept pounding at Muruks defensive line every time when they were
in possession of the ball and second rower Nicko Slain found an
opening and bulldozed his way over to take them into halftime
break trailing 4-8.
Muruks extended their lead in the second half by crossing over
three times through left winger Terry Toa, centre Charlie Wabo and
right winger Mathew Puke and five-eighth Stanley Hondina converted
a try and a penalty cement their victory.
In the early game, the LBC Bombers recorded a comprehensive 20-10
win over Wari Vele Raiders of Port Moresby and sounded a warning
to other leagues that they should not taken lightly in their
remaining two games before the finals in two weeks time.
 
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