| Sports |
Skipper saves the day for Muruks
By SAMPSON BONAI and PETER PIA
A runaway try by Mabey & Johnson
Muruks captain Stanley Hondina consolidated his team’s finals
hopes when they beat LBC Bomber 20-14 in muddy condition at Lae
Rugby League Oval yesterday.
The match also marked the end of season proper for SP Cup
competition with the finals starting next week.
Five-eighth Hondina led by example all day in both attack and
defence.
In the other match played in Lae, Agmark Gurias, down 6-0 at
halftime, kicked out Pagini Warriors from the finals race with a
14-12 win. The win confirmed their right to the minor premiership
title.
Elated Muruks coach Jack Kereme and said they were prepared for
the game and fought hard to the end to win the game and secure a
finals placing this weekend.
“The boys fought strongly after trailing 0-6 at halftime to beat
Bombers and I commend them for a well deserved win,” Kereme said.
“We came prepared for the game after losing to Guria last weekend
and brushed up on our defence and ball handling errors and it
worked miracle for us, I’m pleased with the result,” he said.
Bombers coach Boga Tau said they lost concentration in the final
quarter of the game which robbed them from a win. He thanked his
boy for finishing in the top five.
“It was a courageous efforts put up by the boys and the best team
with less mistakes always comes out winners and I must commend
Muruks for winning the game and advancing onto the finals this
weekend,” Tau said.
In the other double-hear, Warriors winger and man-of-the match
Michael Mark was Lae’s crowd favourites as he played an extra
ordinary game to urge his team forward.
His strong hit-ups paved way for Lomax Numapo to step round
several defenders to score out wide with a successful conversion
for a 6-0 lead.
Both teams executed some thrilling ball skills in the second half
which were enough for the die-hearts fans to cheer for the last
time for this year.
It was 12-10 in favour of Warroirs with five minutes to go when
Andrew Buko sealed the game for Gurias with a try for the 14-12
scoreline after the conversion attempt failed.
 
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