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Sports |
Raiders make finals
By DAVID KAPI
THE Warriors Vele Raiders marched
into the 2007 SP Cup rugby league competition finals after
manhandling Toyota Mioks 32-8 in Port Moresby, while in Lae, LBC
Bombers miss out following their heartbreaking loss to the
defending champions Mabey & Johnson Muruks 20-4 in the final match
of the season. In other matches, Brian Bell Bulldogs outplayed
fumbling Kunjin Eagles 38-6, while defending Muruks ended the
Bombers final campaign with resurgence of their form that earned
them the title to beat the Lae men 20-10 and minor premiers Agmark
Gurias narrowly beat Pagani Warriors 14-12 also in Lae (See match
reports, page 43).
In the first of the Port Moresby matches, Bulldogs defeated Eagles
38-6, in a nothing match where Dogs have secured their final
placing into the playoff and latter with not chance at all.
In the second must-win match, sister club Raiders ran riot with
pace and power to demolish Mioks 32-8, showing no mercy as they
overshadowed their rivals with an outstanding display of ball
running style and aggressive defence with Kumuls hopefuls shining
as stars.
Earlier, the Dogs scored seven tries to one as their forward back
in Aaron Mulunga, Roy Tela, Simon Tonge, Suckling Danage, Johnson
Kiuke and hooker Benjamin John showed way for stylish backline of
Jessie Joe, Joshua Poria, Charles Onguglo and Joshua Lapa to
finish off and led 22 nothing at half time and then added three
more tries through Benjamin John, Joshua Lapa and half-back Brian
Apo while Dae Angra to registered the visitors’ only four pointer.
Later, in a do or die match, the rejuvenated Raiders showed
glimpses of their earlier form in the season, when forward in
raising star Nickson Kolo having scored a try and had hand or a
foot to all tries in the first half I a man of the match
performance, plus lock Jacky Kuman and former Kumuls Kawage Gagma
opened up holes every where for classy backline of Kumuls centre
Gimapau Keimelo, Jerard Hoada, winger Wilfred Henry and fullback
Emanuel Uki to register points for a commanding lead when they
scored four tries in 20 minutes into half time break with hit man
Philip Kumiye sin binned (8th minute) earlier and then sent off
(30th minute) for rest of the match for rough play.
In the second, Mioks tried hard but scored only two four-pointers
through replacement hooker Simon Sio and centre James Kungil, but
it was all Raiders has they piled on through reserves Ball Kamane,
Jerry Kitan, centre Gimapau Keimelo and winger Wilfred Henry to
finish winners 32-8.
The finalists for the season 2007 SP Cup rugby league is Gurias,
Muruks, Bulldogs, Lahanis and the Raiders, who will do battle in
the next two weeks to play in the grand final and lift the SP Cup.
 
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