Gurias hammer Vipers

BETTER ball security enabled the Agmark Rabaul Gurias to outsmart National Capital District Commission Port Moresby Vipers 26-4 in their round five Digicel Cup clash at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
The Gurias simply made fewer mistakes and utilised their players better inside the Vipers territory to come away with a 22-point win.
The Gurias better organisation and attacking options complemented their set completions on an overcast day at the Oil Search National Football Stadium which saw a low turnout by fans.
Gurias back-rower Tuvi Lepan said his side focused on tightening up their sets and rolling through them without doing anything spectacular, just the basics, and it was this mindset that allowed them to open up the game in the second 40 minutes after leading 14-0 at halftime.
Vipers five-eighth Junior Belo said his side’s inability to look after the ball ultimately cost them any chance of mounting a comeback.
Gurias speedster William Akuila bagged a hat-trick of tries while Eliakim Lukara and Dickson Amea scored the other tries, with five-eighth Solomon Pokari kicking three goals.
The home side’s only points came through fullback Jay Bee Dom, who crossed early in the second half to cut the deficit to 10 points, but the Vipers could not carry on from there repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot with a series of errors.
Former PNG Hunters winger Akuila claimed the man-of-the-match — he scored one in the first half and two in the second stanza.
Play-maker Pokari’s kicking game and direction allowed the visitors to control most of the proceedings despite the tenacity shown by the Vipers, who were willing but lacked the polish to threaten the men from Kokopo.
Centre Vipers Thompson Teteh was well contained and never given space and time to cause problems while Rex Tandoa was the home player who impressed in a beaten side.