Brothers’ form keep them in contention

By HENRY MORABANG
BIG game experience was the factor behind United Brothers’ 3-2 win over the equally determined Stingers in the main game of the Port Moresby Softball (Men’s) League at the Bisini Softball Diamond last weekend.
Brothers’ victory was enough for the Jonathan Sogai-coached team to hold firm to their second position ahead of the red-hot young Brown Eagles team.
PNG Power collected two competitions points on the golden plate after Kopex failed for the second time to field a team. The second forfeit by Kopex may see them out the 2013 season.
Vincent Kipma’s Wolves drew with Mantarays 0-0. Despite the draw, there is not much change on the points ladder for Wolves, who are on the seventh spot behind established teams like Bears, Gazelle and Defence.
 Another highlight of the weekend was the Brown Eagles versus Gazelle. The boys from Matupit had too much power to thrash LBC Gazelle 6-2.
Eagles’ representative players in Jack Varuna, Peter Bunbun, Martin ToAlbert, Graham Kinawai and Clement Okole, who was the man-of-the-match, played a big part in ensuring the young Eagles fly over the Antelopes.
All these players were named in the finals of the Port Moresby team to Kavieng’s national softball championships.
In the other interesting matches, Defence gave reigning premiers, Bears a tough game for the first four innings as they lead 2-1 until the bottom of the fifth when Julius Tatai belted a home run to bring himself and Alex Bunbun home to steal the game 3-2.
Defence were the better side but Bears experience was the order of the afternoon.
The points ladder after last weekend’s matches: PNG Power 39, United Brothers 32, Brown Eagles 32, Bears 31, LBC Gazelle 29. Defence 27, Wovles 25, Stingers 21, Mantarays 19 and Kopex 14.
Meanwhile, the Port Moresby Softball League (POMSBL) has suspended all sanctioned fixtures until after Easter weekend to allow its representative players concentrate on training for the upcoming national championships.
Secretary Albert Daniels said the suspension of matches would allow representative players to concentrate fully on bonding as a team with their coaches and teammates.