Crocs clinch 7s title

By LARRY ANDREW
A BRACE of tries by Emmanuel Alfred helped the Six-Mile Crocs claim the 2024 Trans Highway Sevens title with a 19-5 win over defending champions PC Ravens on Sunday.
The final was kicked off by former Lae MP and rugby patron Bart Philemon.
Both teams were undefeated in the pool stage of the two-day tournament and performed to a high standard in the Morobe Rugby Union’s first event for the 2024 calendar.
The Ravens were first on the scoreboard with captain Francis Luveni scoring an unconverted try in the second minute of play for a 5-0 lead.
But the Crocs, comprising mostly rugby league players, rose to the challenge with Alfred scoring the first of his two tries under the uprights after enterprising phase play. Halfback Jacky Winas nailed the conversion to give his side a 7-5 lead.
With pressure mounting on the Ravens to regain the lead the defending titlists started to crumble with errors creeping into their play while the Crocs defensive effort also had a lot to do with it.
Alfred put a significant dent in the Ravens’ hopes with another try before halftime and Winas added the extras for a 14-5 lead.
The Ravens never recovered sufficiently to regain the ascendency to test and break the Crocs and the Six-Mile skipper Lynol Molpoyo put the result beyond doubt with a try late in the half to hand his side a memorable upset win.
Mplpoyo told The National that most of his team were part of the Lae Tigers preseason squad and had used the tournament as part of their preparation for the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup season.
“We decided to participate in the Trans Highway 7s tournament for our match fitness. In 2022 we won the plate final but improved on that here,” he said.
“We did have some players representing the PNG Pukpuks in sevens while some of us have been playing rugby union competitions and we’re here for match fitness. It was a tough match playing against the defending champions who were undefeated throughout. I had trust in my boys despite some criticism but told them to trust themselves and do what they can do,” Molpoyo said following the conclusion of the tournament.
Luveni said his side built good momentum from the pool stage and made the final but could not click in the decider.
“We didn’t work hard on our defensive play, so that’s something we need to work on. At the end of the day, there is one winner and a loser, and we are content that we made it into the final,” Luveni said.
In the men’s plate final, visitors Rabaul Stallion won the final beating City Light and in the women’s division, Harlequins defeated Pirates won their final while Qaqa silenced IBA Sisters to win the plate.