Bomana Cats claw Dockers to lift POM AFL crown

By ROBSON AKIS
HITRON Bomana Cats claimed their first Port Moresby AFL BSP premiership shield in their fourth year, blitzing pre-match favourites and minor premiers Lamana Dockers by 56 points at Amini Park on Saturday.
The air of inevitability that has followed the Cats throughout the season was evident throughout the match, as they were rarely challenged on their way to the 13.13 (91) to 5.5 (35) victory.
Young captain and centreman Gideon Simon and rover Theo Gavuri proved to be the best on the ground finishing with 34 and 35 possessions respectively.
Gavuri also claimed the man-of-the-match while Simon was awarded the overall Vili Maha medal for his outstanding performance throughout the season.
Brendan Beno (32 possessions), Richard Stegman (30), Ezra Kautu (27), John Jim (25), Ori Nilmo (22) and Jeffery Namete (20) were also prolific ball winners.
Another youngster Noel Maguna was a surprise match-up on Stanis Isu but the 17-year-old impressed in keeping the Dockers skipper to nine possessions and one goal while gathering 23 disposals.
The Dockers had few clear winners across the ground, but Peter Keu toiled hard for his 31 possessions, while Thomas Gori-Dau (30) and Allan Brown (25) worked hard throughout.
Young Manus lad Jason So’on gave the Cats their first goal five minutes in and it was all Bomana from there on with Simon and Gavuri leading the way around the stoppages.
The Cats went inside forward 50 on 26 occasions but it was only their wastefulness once in attack that saw them notch up 13 goals and 13 behinds overall.
The Cats led by 29-points at the first break after they had kicked four goals and five behinds to the Dockers 0.
The Dockers raised some hope in the second quarter when they booted three goals and two behinds to cut back the lead to 19 points at half-time to the Cats one goal and four behinds.
The Cats booted five goals and three behinds in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 45 points while restricting the Dockers to a goal and a behind, a snapshot of the forward line pressure that was evident whole day.
The signs of victory for the Cats were ominous in the final quarter when three goals rained down on the shell-shocked Dockers who were powerless to stop the run as the PNG AFL Academy boys from De La Salle Secondary School threw in everything for their first taste of premiership victory.