Capital men claim national rugby title

By LARRY ANDREW
PORT Moresby finally came out of the doldrums to beat the Morobe Hammerhead sharks 31-14 in the provincial rugby championships at SCRUM Oval in Lae, Morobe on Sunday.
The win was attributed to their forward pack led by No.8 Ilimeleki Delasau, who got the better of the opposing players.
The tall Fijian was unstoppable.
The Port Moresby side was first to post points on the scoreboard through the boot of Jonah Kautu Jr when the Sharks were penalised for offside in the ruck area in their own territory.
Another penalty minutes later for a ruck infringment gave the visitors a 6-0 lead.
The Sharks regrouped after the penalty to dominate territory and mounted pressure on their opposition defence line to force the southerners into error.
Number eight Ryan Sambat dashed clear to score from the back of the ruck and half Joseph Wamapiri converted to take the hosts to the lead, 7-6.
The lead was short-lived however through the boot of Kautu, after Naboth Yawing was penalised for a high tackle on Emmanuel Guise.
A lack of discipline impacted the Sharks again as Ian Gore was marched to the bin by referee Sailosi Druma for an high tackle on Chris Kakah.
Returning from the break, the game intensified with both teams putting their bodies on the line.
Moresby dominating the lineouts with their height advantage, leading eventually to a Kakah try and a successful Kautu conversion to extend their lead to 16-7.
Veteran Douglas Guise scored in the right hand corner for Moresby again to take them to a comfortable 21-7 lead, before PNG sevens teammate Jason Missian added a try for the Sharks off a fumble.
Wamapiri converted, 14-21.
The Port Moresby side potted a penalty goal to extend the lead to 24-17 and put the game out of reach when Richard Songake opted to kick the ball after a lineout win and gifted the visitors the final with Kakah going in for his second try.