Dogs win Snax 9s title

By LARRY ANDREW
THE 13A Bulldogs won the K10,000 prize money and the Snax 9 cup on Saturday after defeating East Spiders 24-22 in the grand final at the Lae Rugby League grounds.
Defending champions Spiders had won all their matches in the week-long challenge and were favourites to retain the cup but the hopes of making it three in a row fell short as the Dogs beat them off in a close encounter.
In the third place playoff Compatriot Security Pythons beat Omili Jets 24-12.
The Bulldogs led by Sydney Fred, Peter Kama, Kerry Tapako, Otto Sam, BJ Wallames and Terence Sombo worked hard to gain ground in the opening moments of the game and inside centre Elizah Elias scored under the post.
The Dogs’ lead was short-lived as Spiders fullback and player of the tournament Paul Nelson scored his four pointer but failed to convert his own try.
The Spiders’ determination to stay in the contest was rewarded when referee Luxie Metta penalised Bulldogs players for an infringement and from the third tackle try-scoring right winger Richard Tuweyo crossed the line unmarked. Nelson converted to take over the lead 12-6.
Bulldogs regrouped and cut the six-point deficit to two when second rower BJ Wallames scored an unconverted try.
The defending champions scored another try from a Bulldogs mistake to surge ahead to 18-10 at the halftime break.
The Bulldogs replied through winger Bernard Emere to narrow the gap. Spiders’ Nelson, capitalising on the weak Bulldogs’ defence, scored his second try it and extended the lead to 22-14.
However, the Bulldogs, hungrier for a win, piled two more tries in the in the end to seal the match and collect the spoils.
Spiders received K6000 while Pythons got away with K4000 and Jets settled for K2000. Other award recipients were BNDL Hawks (most disciplined team — K500), Huon Jets (most organised team — K500), and player of the tournament Paul Nelson was awarded K1000.