Defence upset Tarangau

 DEFENCE thumped reigning champions Tarangau 26-6 in Port Moresby Rugby League premier division at the Murray Barracks Rugby Oval yesterday.

A fired up green machine outgunned the warders in typically physical encounter between the two sides representing the disciplinary forces.

This is Defence’s second win in a row after starting off the season poorly. Coach Noel Aria has managed to keep up morale among the troops instilling a self-belief in the players that has seen them play much calmer football.

With a halftime score of 6-6 the game was always going to be decided by the team that took their chances and could maintain the intensity.  That team was Defence. Aria’s charges piled on 20-unanswered points in the second 40 to hand the defending premiers another loss.

As hard as Tarangau tried, they could not shake off the fact that they were missing several players to the Digicel Cup side the Vipers.

Defence’s tries were scored by centres Mike Jacob and Quentin Talu, while fullback Dickson Amea, Suni Patrick and Simon Kubi scored the other tries with Patrick kicking two goals and Amea one. Tarangau’s only try came from Larry Pekaea and Jerry Ala kicked a penalty.

Results: Defence 26 Tarangau 6, West 18 Paga Panthers 12, Kone Storm 20 Hohola Flies 0, Souths 4 Dobo Warriors 0, Magani 10 Kone Tigers 8, Royals 10 Butterflies 0, Hawks 13 Brothers 12.