Isapea make first finals

By JACK AMI
THE Gulf Isapea ended a six-year drought by securing their first finals berth in the PNG National Rugby League’s Digicel Cup.
The crocodiles beat the Goroka Lahanis 14-12 yesterday, in a must-win game at the Sir Danny Leah Oval in the Eastern Highlands capital to clinch fifth spot.
The Isapea trailed 12-8 late in the second half of the round 16 fixture before winger Jojo Forova scored in the corner and left halfback Jephet Olik the match-winning conversion which he delivered the for morale-boosting victory.
Unfortunately, the game was not without incident with an unidentified Lahanis forward threatening the referee during the match in an ugly but all too familiar scene which has happened before in the season in other matches.
The incident took place in the 71st minute, after the Forova try, and held play up for a good 15 minutes before the game was completed.
PNGNRL chief executive officerStanley Hondina, who witnessed the incident, calmed the situation and urged the sides to finish the match.
The Isapea held on valiantly at the restart and earned their finals spot after a 6-6 halftime score.
In the final round’s other significant match the Lae Tigers won their third straight minor premiership with a 22-8 win over the wooden spooners, the Simbu Lions.
Making up the top five are the Tigers (27), Hagen Eagles (25), Enga Mioks (23), Agmark Gurias (22) and the Isapea (19).
In the other matches, the Mendi Muruks edged neighbours Hela Wigmen 14-11 in Mendi, the Waghi Tumbe hammered the Mioks 20-0 in Minj and a depleted Agmark Gurias still had enough to beat a poor Port Moresby Vipers in the national capital on Saturday.
Standings: Tigers 27, Eagles 25, Mioks 23, Gurias 22, Isapea 19, Muruks 18, Tumbe 17, Wigmen 14, Lahanis 10, Vipers 9, Lions 8.
In the capital city fixture, the Gurias despite a slow start managed a deserved 14-12 win over the Vipers, who simply ran out of ideas and puff in the second half after a strong opening 40 minutes at the National Football Stadium on Saturday.
The Vipers led 12-6 at the interval with tries to five-eighth Peter Palus and Supa George both of which converted by full back Brendan Gotuno.
The visitors got on the scoreboard through hooker Stanley Olo with winger Elipas Pidik adding the extras.
The game was marred by sloppy handling in the second half with both sides unable to gain a foothold from which to apply pressure.
With the game going nowhere the Gurias pounced on one of their opportunities with Pidik picking up his second and Konie Bernard scoring the other try for victory.