| Sports |
Linesman pelted by irate Lae
spectators
By SAMPSON BONAI and PETER PIA
SENIOR Lae rugby league referee and linesman on the day John
Mark was pelted with stones by a section of the 3,000-strong
crowd at Lae rugby league oval after LBC Bombers beat Besta
Eagles 24-6 in round 17 of SP Cup competition yesterday.
Bombers were leading 24-6 when the disgruntled spectators,
unhappy with one of his rulings, started hurling abuse at Mark
followed by stones and other missiles.
This forced him to abandon his linesman duties and run for
safety in the grandstand.
He did not appear to be seriously injured.
PNGRFL executive officer Jeff Wade could not be reached for
comment yesterday on what course of action he would take to
prevent similar incidents with the finals only two weeks away.
Lae coach Boga Tau was a happy man and thanked his boys for
putting on their best game for the comprehensive win over Besta
Eagles.
“I am pleased with the boys ... for keeping our finals hopes
alive in the SP Cup race,” Tau said.
Besta Eagles coach Joe McConnor took the loss in his strides,
admitting that they play as a team and strayed from their game
plan.
Bombers lead 16-0 at halftime and went on to score three more
tries after the break to secure the fifth spot on the
competition ladder.
Bombers led early when captain back-rower John Milba crashed
near the uprights and five eight Andrew Sam raised the flags to
take an early 6-0 lead.
Eagles started firing at full speed with forwards Benny Pamunda,
Stanley Akinu, Kiap Poke, Alfred Usu and Francis Ray getting
into the thick of things up front with bombarding runs and
valuable metres.
Bombers forwards Cedric Belo, John Milba, Jerry Kutz, Anton Bill
and Randall Kaupa put their bodies on the lines with hard runs
which laid the foundation for the backline scoring spree.
Two tries were scored by hooker Leonard Otmar and five-eighth
Andrew Sam converted to take them into halftime break leading
16-0.
Bombers extended their lead in the second half through a penalty
goal to lead 18-0 before hooker Jerry Kutz made a 50-metre break
and raced away to score under the post. Sam raised the flags and
Bombers registered 24 unanswered points.
Eagles only points of the one-sided affair came from a converted
try just before full-time ñ second rower Skipper Mel touching
down near the post and centre Ham Tee converting.
 
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