| Sports |
Islanders crowned as Super4s champ
NIVANI Islanders are the 2007 Super
4s rugby union champions.
The Islanders beat Credit Corporation Southern Traders 22-19 at
the SCRUM Oval in Lae to take out the title.
Captain Eremas Simba, one of the founding members of the
Islanders, savoured the win because in the last four Supers 4s,
they had being the wooden spooners.
Simba said that Charlie Maips, Les Kapin and Moses Jalina Jr are
some of the players remaining from the 2003 playing list.
“This is a very big, big win for us and is dedicated to all the
boys that were there since day one in 2003 until now,” Simba
said.
“I am overjoyed and would like to thank the hard work of all the
boys, the team management and our sponsors Nivani and
Schweppes.”
In the match that mattered most, the Traders were leading 12-8
midway into the second half and looked more controlled than
their opposition.
However, that all changed in matter 10 minutes when Buckley
Joseph stepped his way through the big Southern forwards and
sent halfback Terence Rangamat to score next to the up-rights.
Centre Daniel Ponda, later named the best back in the
competition, added another try under the post. Fly- half Freddy
Mathies converted both tries and the Islanders shot 22-12 lead.
Traders captain Willie Rikis pegged back the lead by five points
when he crashed over from a ruck and Roland Namo added another
two points with the conversion.
Trader started the match on a right note when they had the
Islanders pack under pressure in the scrums and line-outs, but
could not do any real damage on the scoreboard.
The Islanders defence led by flankers Avosa Kaipu and Ralph
Pombie, locks Simba and Maips also stalled any scoring
opportunities.
Kaipu and Pombie were superb at the breakdowns and gained the
ball on many occasions with the Traders threatening their line.
The Traders were first score when Islanders fullback Tony Kevi
mistimed a high kick and David Eri latched on to the ball to
race away to score, Fullback Jack Maraha converting for a 7-0
lead.
Simba returned the favour when he bumped his way over in the
corner to trail 5-7 at halftime.
Traders centre Graham Sakora went over for the third try of the
match from an overlap nearly butchered by Maraha when he opted
to dummy to an unmarked Eri on his outside. Fortunately for
Maraha, he stood in the tackle and off loaded to Sakora to
score.
Maraha was replaced by Tisa Kautu. Then, the Islanders tsunami
hit them and Kautu made some telling errors which led Ponda’s
winning try.
The Hurricanes finished on top, the Traders in second place, the
Porgera Joint Venture Highlanders in third and last years
winners Besta Northern Reds at the rear in fourth.
The Hurricanes also dominated the individual awards with Daniel
Ponda (Most Valuable Player), second-five Buckley Joseph (Best
Back), flanker Avosa Kaipu (Best Forward), replacement winger
Murao Rebon (Most Points Scorer) and John Pangkatana (Coach of
the Tournament).
In the main match, PJV Highlanders thrashed Besta Northern Reds
32-12.
 
|
