Igilia’s penalty earns Bulldogs win

BOROKO Bulldogs centre-cum-halfback Samson Igilia kicked a penalty goal to help his side Henao Hurricanes to a 6-4 win in round seven of the Boroko off-season rugby league competition on Sunday.
It was a gritty encounter in front of a vocal crowd at the Port Moresby rugby league oval.
The Bulldogs defended well in the second half to deny the Hurricanes any points.
After round seven, Bulldogs are on sixth place on the point’s ladder with five wins and two draws.
Hurricanes were the first to score through centre Solomon Bire after a good offload from bulky prop forward Valentine Neng.  The Hurricanes led 4-0.
Bulldogs hit back when second rower Jackson Tandaole carried two Hurricanes defenders to score in the far right-hand corner to level the scores at 4-4.
However, Bulldogs capitalised on a high tackle to extend their lead 6-4 with Igilia’s penalty finding the uprights. Despite a tight contest in the second half, Bulldogs held on to seal victory.
Bulldogs club officials and players are appealing to business houses in the Boroko area to help with uniforms.
The official and players are unemployed youths living in the Tari Block, Mango Mine and Daima settlements.
Bulldogs and Kavo West captain Jackie Moses said they had written letters to some business houses and were waiting for their response.
He said they had been wearing torn jerseys to participate since the competition started last month.
There are eight more rounds before the knockouts in January.
The top eight teams in the competition are 2 Mile Housefire, Southern Cross, Storeline Cowboys, 7-Mile Jets, Idubada Sea Eagles, Boroko Bulldogs, 2CT Rabbitohs and Vadavada United.
Boroko Sports Association president Willie Kay said the competition would go into a two-week break to prepare the Boroko Pythons for the NCD Governor’s Cup challenge.