Harlies, Uni on the roll in Pom rugby

PORT Moresby rugby union season for this year opened over the weekend with an all round fire in attack, but margins that would have put the sword into defensive coaches.
Saturday’s opening at Bava Park between Monier Harlequins and Brothers did not live up to the challenge, as Harlequins ran rings around the Brethren for their 38-12 victory.
The other match on Oval one saw Easiloan University give Kone Sharks a “rethink”, about their spot in the premier division, with a 56-0 thrashing.
The supposedly match of the round on Oval two, however, saw both packs go “tooth-and-nail”, and yardage by yardage before Harlequins sensation Chris Kakah broke the ice in the eighth minute.
Kakah, playing on the left wing, scored at the end of a simple draw and pass movement by his inside backs, after continuous barrages by the Harlequins pack eventually drew Brothers numbers on the inside.
First-five Jonah Kautu converted from the sideline, and signalled the warning of a side on top of their game.
Brothers’ forwards regrouped in the ensuing plays with skipper Taugau Tau and Cyjoh Waingut continuously pressing at the line and break downs, but fell short against an equally-determined Harlies pack led by Avosa Kaipu and Richard Pangkatana.
With the tussle hard-up in the forwards, Harlequins backline switched into turbo gear, as former Brothers and new recruit Kojo Ware, Raikarawa Moere, Kautu and Jacob Jesse ran the ball in the true fashion and flair of running rugby, to collect a total six tries.
The second half saw a little more fight in the Brethren attack but it was all too late, by fulltime whistle, 38-12 to the defending premiers.
With only the excuse, game one of the new season, the result or thrashing will now take the men in black back to the paddocks for some hard asking questions.
Yesterday’s matches and results also returned high margins, Chiefs ushering new premier side, Valley Hunters into the top grade 24-0, and Wanderers reminding the competition again of the threat they pose for the season, 27-3 over last year’s finalists, Defence.