Garden Hills win Cup

By MELTON PAIS

GARDEN Hills shocked defending champions Freeway Bumpers 5-4 to win the 2015 NCD Governor’s Cup title yesterday at the Kone Tigers Oval.

The National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority-sponsored side earned the slenderest of wins without even scoring a try.

A decisive penalty given to Garden Hills, who trailed 4-3 with three minutes left in the final, saw five-eighth Kennedy Jukia step up to slot the pressure goal some 30m out but in front.

Jukia earned the man-of-the-match award having scored all of his side’s points — he kicked a penalty and a field goal in the first half.

Hills captain Jambo Luke credited his No 6 for winning the match for his side.

“We won because of one man — Jukia. His boot was the difference. We would have lost 4-0 if it wasn’t for him,” Luke said.  

Garden Hills earned K10,000 for their effort.

The Bumpers, who had won the last two cups coming into the tournament, scored a try through Jimmy Sole in the first half but were kept scoreless in the second half.

The win was all the more sweeter for Garden Hills made up of mostly Eastern Highlands youth living along the Garden Hills and Works area of Waigani Drive, as this was their debut in the Governor’s Cup.

A glowing Luke said he was proud of his team and the effort they put in during the week-long tournament. “I told my boys to give everything in the final and not to be afraid. They actually did that. I’m so proud of them,” Luke said.

“We made it this far into the tournament and we promised ourselves that we would not be the losers when the final whistle went.”

Luke thanked his teammates saying they had risen to the occasion and made their area proud.