Cats edge Uni Tigers

Sports

CATS recorded their fifth win in the A grade of the Port Moresby Australian Football League (POMAFL) season with 53-47 win over University Tigers on Saturday.
The round six match at Colts Oval was a seesawing affair. Tigers took an early lead in the first quarter leading 14-12 as both sides scored two goals while the Uni men managed two behinds to edge their noses in front.
With breeze behind them in the second quarter, Cats scored three unanswered goals and three behinds while the Tigers could only manage a goal and a behind on the stroke of half-time.
Cats led 34-21 at half-time. Tigers came back hard in the third quarter kicking two goals and a behind with Tigers only kicking a goal to lead 40-34.
The game went right down to the wire in the final quarter when Tigers scored back-to-back goals to lead 48-40. With three minutes before full-time Cats showed resilience as they kicked two quick goals and a behind to regain the lead and win the game.
Andrew Lai, Watson Warili and Richard Kila starred in Cats win as they kicked a goal each and were good in defence.
Cats coach Joe Maggio told The National after the game that his men lacked fitness.
“I am happy with the result, it was a tough win for us,” Maggio said.
“But despite this result I think our fitness level is really poor.
“I don’t think we will be serious contenders for the premiership with our current form in fitness so that is something we really need to improve on going into mid-season.
“So far we have won five games and lost only one and we are second on the ladder while West Eagles are leading the competition.”