Gurias show no mercy on Lahanis

By ELIZABETH VUVU
DEFENDING Digicel Cup rugby league premiers Goroka Lahanis suffered a reality check in yesterday’s 32-4 thrashing by the NGIP Agmark Gurias.
The Week 14 match at the Kalabond field, in Kokopo, East New Britain, had home fans hoarse as their heroes scored almost at will after an evenly contested opening 20 minutes.
Barely minutes into the first half, Dion Aiye crossed for the first Gurias try from a superb midfield kick by Jackie Marcus.
Marcus flipped the ball to Boas Ruru, who fed Aiye to score from 10m out.
Ruru failed to convert as the Gurias led 4-0.
Nineteen minutes later, the Lahanis evened the score after forward Urakusi fled past the Gurias’ defence to feed right winger Spiro Maikaive.
Maikaive strolled over in the right corner to level the scores 4- 4.
A penalty kick awarded to the Gurias after a strip ball by Lahanis five-eighth Kasey Frank was converted by Ruru for the 6- 4 lead.
A no-look inside pass from Ase Boas to Francis Paniu saw Paniu scamper run for the line untouched to score the Gurias second try.
Boas converted and the home side led 12-4.
In the second half, quick passing by the Gurias backline to Nelson Daplen saw him send Chris Jerry in to score in the corner.
Boas missed conversion but the lead stretched to 16- 4.
Jackie Marcus then put his foot down and outsprinted everybody from half way to score under the upright.
Boas converted the try to make 22- 4.
With the Lahanis wilting, Gurias hit again as Kot Kerua made a run, nipping past three Lahanis defenders and offloading to Wartovo Puara Junior to score 10 metres from uprights. Boas converted to make it 28-4.
To rub salt into the wounds, the Gurias scored their last try after a good backline movement and set up by Boas.
He was held in a tackle but slipped a pass to Daplen, who gave the ball to Jerry to dive over the tryline untouched.
Paniu failed to convert, leaving the final score at 32-4.
Despite the sweet win, Gurias head coach Michael Marum has several players out with injury.
They include Pidi Togap, Kot Kerua and Dion Aiye.
The Gurias now lead the table with 22 points ahead of Enga Mioks also on 22 points but with a better points differential.