Harlies snatch win at death

 By LARRY ANDREW

HARLEQUINS continued their winning run in Morobe rugby when they came from behind to beat Defence 13-10 in the main game at SCRUM Oval on Saturday.

In the other premier games Consort Royals humbled Dulux Viking Dogs 33-3 while Bismark Maritime Pirates forfeited Riback Unitech Reds. 

The Harlequins-Defence match was notable by the fact that referee Edgar Mongoru allowed both sides to dictate the terms at the breakdown making for a very physical game.

Defence scored first when centre Isaac Chandler dove over for a 5-0 lead. Joseph Wamapiri missed the conversion.  Harlequins had a try disallowed because of a forward pass just before the break.

Harlies started the second half strongly and their efforts were rewarded when second-rower Lindsey Maliaki broke through to level the score at 5-5. Benito Palasi missed the conversion.

Palasi later made up through an offside penalty out to put Harlies in front 8-5.

Defence retaliated with a try moments later off a Chandler kick to take the lead again 10-8.

With the clock ticking down a return kick to Harlequins replacement fly-half Kea Kave, saw the Kerema man hack through a short kick which was scooped up by Joshua Lokora Jnr who then flicked it back to Kave to score the winner.

Harlequins 13 (L. Maliaki, K. Kave tries; B. Palasi 1 Pen) Defence 10 (I.Chandler, B. Balasam tries) HT: Defence 5-0 at SCRUM Oval in Lae.