It’s the Gurias

By KEITH PUARIA
EIGHT months and seven days of hard work ended in jubilation yesterday as the Agmark Gurias lifted the 2012 Digicel Cup.
The tight 14-10 victory over the Mendi Muruks at the Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby was a fitting finale to the season.
“We started on Jan 2, put our heads down and worked very hard for this,” captain Ase Boas said.
“This is for all our families, for our fans, for a very committed sponsor, and greater credit to the one we dedicate all our games to – bik man antap (the big man above).”
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Boas couldn’t have summarized the season any better for a side driven by their dream run to the finals last season, coming up short when it mattered in the final against Goroka Lahanis, and then returning to seal a pact a season later.
Lloyd Robson Oval was reduced to standing room only in the final, with part of the VIP entourage ending up watching from the rooftop of the main stand, beside local television cameramen and match commentators.
Gurias wing Chris Jerry opened proceedings up seven minutes into the final off the slick hands of centre Francis Paniu and five-eighth Dion Aiye, but constant pressure up the middle by the Muruks eventually created an overlap out wide for centre Mathew Puke to reply four minutes later in the corner.
Five-eighth Kewa Kili converted from the sideline, and the Muruks held on to the slender 6-4 lead.
The anticipated speed prior to kick-off had been toned down by the brute in the contact, and it was obvious the battle had to be won up front first.
Muruks second rows Robert Nandie and Jackson Undi again stamped their authority as the ‘living stones’ a week after tearing Mioks apart, in ‘straight-up-and-hard’ attack and stone-like defence, but Gurias trio Kot Kerua, Emmanuel John and Obert Hondole were not giving anything away either till the break.
With the wind on their backs and driven by louder ‘libilibi’ chants from around the grounds, the Muruks hardened up for a possible chance to write the final chapter of the seasons hard road.
Gurias halfback, Boas immediately changed the script five minutes into the half, however, slipping a cut-out pass to wing Boas Ruru to score and take their side to the lead 8-6 up.
Muruks reserve Malachi Owen skidded through to score an uncoverted try seven minutes later to change the lead again, before centre Jacky Markus’ penalty on the 55minute equalized for the Kokopo side, 10-10.
Pound for pound, both packs came hard at each other, closely directed by their masters Wabo and Kili for Muruks, and Wartovo Puara Jr and Dion Aiye.
Jerry crossed in the 65minute for his second after working a smart short-side run with Markus, and the Gurias held on to their season dream until the hooter.
Two opportunities went begging for the Southern Highlanders late but it was all but over when Wessa Tenza lost the ball a metre out from the Guria line with three minutes remaining.
“You deserve this win,” Muruks captain Joseph Omae told the Gurias.
“We didn’t think that we would come this far, we have come through a lot of hardship, and just getting to this grand final is enough.”
“Satisfying,” Coach Michael Marum said.
“All the months with the ball, on the field in the sun comes to an end here.”
Boas could not have summarised the season any better for a side driven by their dream run to the finals last season, coming up short when it mattered in the final against Goroka Lahanis.
Lloyd Robson Oval had standing-room-only in the final, with part of the VIP entourage ending up watching from the roof of the main stand, beside local television cameramen and match commentators.
Gurias wing Chris Jerry opened proceedings seven minutes into the final, off the slick hands of centre Francis Paniu and five-eighth Dion Aiye, but constant pressure up the middle by the Muruks eventually created an overlap out wide for centre Mathew Puke to reply four minutes later in the corner.
Five-eighth Kewa Kili converted from the sideline, and the Muruks led 6-4.
The anticipated speed prior to kick-off had been reduced by brute force in the contact, and it was obvious the battle had to be won up front first.
Muruks’ second-rowers Robert Nandie and Jackson Undi again stamped their authority as the real deals, a week after tearing the Mioks apart, in “straight-up-and-hard” attack and stone-like defence.
But Gurias’ Kot Kerua, Emmanuel John and Obert Hondole were not giving anything away either.
With the wind at their backs and driven by louder ‘libilibi’ chants from around the ground, the Muruks hardened up for a possible chance to write the final chapter of the season’s hard luck story.
Gurias’ halfback Boas immediately changed the script five minutes into the stanza, slipping a cut-out pass to wing Boas Ruru to score and take their side to the lead 8-6.
Muruks’ reserve Malachi Owen slid through to score an uncoverted try seven minutes later to change the lead again, before centre Jacky Markus’ penalty on the 55minute equalised for the Kokopo side, 10-10.
Both packs came hard at each other, closely directed by their commanders Wabo and Kili for Muruks, and Wartovo Puara Junior and Aiye.
Jerry crossed in the 65th minute for his second try after working a smart short-side run with Markus, and the Gurias held on to their season dream until the hooter.
Two opportunities went begging for the Southern Highlanders late but it was all but over when Wessa Tenza lost the ball a metre out from the Gurias’ line with three minutes remaining.
“You deserve this win,” Muruks captain Joseph Omae told the Gurias.
“We didn’t think that we would come this far, we have come through a lot of hardship, and just getting to this grand final was enough.”
“Satisfying,” coach Michael Marum said.
“All the months with the ball on the field in the sun comes to an end here.”