Gurias deny Mioks chance to make finals

By ROSELYN ELLISON
THE Enga Mioks missed out on a place in the Digicel Cup top-six playoffs after they lost 10-20 to the Rabaul Gurias at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo on Sunday.
Elias Stanley scored the opener five minutes in to get the Gurias on the front foot and despite an unsuccessful conversion, the home side led 4-0.
The Gurias were then awarded a penalty, enabling Solomon Pukare to extend their lead to 6-0 after 15 minutes.
Francis Takai scored another try for the Gurias, however, the conversion was unsuccessful.
Five minutes before halftime Takai crossed over again for another Gurias try, giving the home side a 14-6 lead at the break.
The Mioks came back with renewed energy to score an unconverted try 10 minutes into the second half, cutting the Gurias lead to four points (10-14).
However, the Gurias pushed themselves to an 18-10 lead with an unconverted try to Gene Markham. Takai sealed the Gurias victory with a penalty conversion.
Mioks player-coach Roger Laka told The National that he was disappointed with his players’ first-half performance.
He said they allowed the finals-bound Gurias to take a good first-half lead and were unable to reel them in. “Our attack was poor and that’s what probably cost us the game,” Laka said.
Gurias coach Steven Nightingale was pleased with his players for grinding out the win.
Nightingale said the Gurias had always made the finals since 1987.
“We will concentrate more on a new game plan heading into the finals,” he said.