Fullback stars in victory

The National Sports
Northern Confederate 14B Pirates teammates five-eight McQuinn Gabriel (left), left winger Kelvin Apo (centre) and prop Lami Kasa carrying Sanny Wabo after their grandfinal win over Southern Confederate Kama Coffee Brothers 12-10 in Lae. on Saturday.

By LARRY ANDREW
FULLBACK Sanny Wabo starred as hosts 14B Pirates beat Kama Coffee Brothers 12-10 in the final of the national rugby league club championship in Lae on Saturday.
In an exciting finish for third place, Mt Hagen Kui Raiders’ Raiven Jonah kicked an extra-time field goal to beat Kokopo Takubar Brothers 15-14 after the game was field 14-14 at the end of regulation time.
The final of the Mineral Resource Development Company-sponsored tournament was tight with most of the first 20 minutes the game played in Brothers territory at the Lae Rugby League Ground.
Pirates switched play to the left with five-eighth McQuinn Gabriel making a short pass for second-rower Willie Tusa to cross over to open the scoring. Halfback Mafu Kalas added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
The game intensified as Brothers displayed aggressive football to counter-attack Pirates defence but could not find an opening even though they were close to the opposing tryline.
Nine minutes from halftime, man-of-the-match Wabo beat the Brothers defence on his own 20m to sprint 80m to score the home side’s second try. Kalas added the extras to push his side out to a 12-0 lead.
But five minutes later, Brothers replied with an unconverted try through interchange Sydney Koi to go to the break 4-12.
The second half was riddled with handing errors and stoppages but Brothers, determined not to let the game out of their grasp, mounted pressure through forwards Gordon Bal, John Supa, Philip Olmi, Bob Gore and Stanley Bill.
In the 68th minute, play inside Pirates’ territory saw five-eighth Daru Wanpis Tuli switching the ball to the left for fullback Tony Wemin to slice through for the visitors’ second try. Centre Ben Wemin converted the try to narrow the gap to 10-12.
The game was on the fence in the remaining 10 minutes with Pirates and Brothers giving their all but both sides failed to post more points, leaving the homes side to claim victory. Pirates bagged the inaugural MRDC shield and K15,000 while Brothers pocketed K10,000.
Result: Pirates 12 (Willie Tusa, Sanny Wabo tries, Mafu Kalas 2 goals) Brothers 10 (Sidney Koi, Tony Wemin tries, Ben Wemin goal). Halftime score: 12-4.