Koboni notch first AFL win

PORT Moresby Esi Loan AFL Premiership title holders Concept Koboni finally got on the scoreboard after three consecutive losses with a morale-boosting 34-point win over Gordon Kokofas at the Colts Oval on Saturday.
Although the 7. 8 (50) to 1. 10 (16) victory was not their best performance, coaching staff Blacky Brandon, David Evertius and Jack Bola were happy that “the boys finally got on the scoreboard to make a wake-up start to their title defence”.
The Demons started off strongly and meant business when Wilfred Dorigori, Haksy Ehava, Paul Philip and Lai Lai combined well in the centre square to set up Douglas Lai Jr, Amua Pirika, Snyder Peter and Moku Maino to snap up four goals and two behinds for an early 24-point lead at quarter time.
The Kokofas did not get a clear passage in the first quarter and only managed two behinds when the opportunity arose for them to move the ball up to their forward line.
In the second quarter, Kokofas out-played the Demons and had more possession through the hard work of skipper Bena Michael in the midfield to find John Paul Isu in the half-forward flank for a perfectly placed punt kick for a perfect six pointer.
The Demons faltered with half-hearted tackling and miss-timed markings in aerial contests but managed to add two behinds to their progressive score to still maintain a handy 4.4 (28) to 1.3 (9) lead at halftime.
Complacency began to grip both teams as play became scrappy, with both teams resorting to underhand tactics which resulted in Douglas Lai Jr’s sinbinning for 10 minutes.
Inaccuracy crept into Kokofas’ play when most of their sure shots went astray for five behinds while the Demons took advantage with dashing fullback David Topeni calling the shots to set up Snyder and Moku to end the quarter with two goals and a behind.
The final quarter was without any clear sense of purpose in the game plan.
The Demons, however, regained momentum and nailed the final six-pointer and three behinds to run out the winners while the lizards bowed out with only two behinds.
In the earlier match on Saturday, a vastly improved Gereka Bombers held Lamana Dockers to the ropes for the best part of the game before the wharfies broke through for a 9.13 (67) to 7.2 (44) victory.
In Sunday’s clash, competition frontrunners Maritime West Eagles proved too powerful for the youthful Gerehu Magpies 15.17 (107) to 2,2 (14).
In the women’s matches, Lamana Dockers thrashed North Waigani Tigers 9.13 (67) to 1.0 (6) on Saturday and Gordon Kokofas whipped Concept Koboni 9.7 (61) to nil.
Men’s ladder: West 16 Dockers 16, Cats 12, Bombers 8, Kokofas 8, Koboni 4, Magpies 0, Tigers 0.
Women’s ladder: Kokofas 14, Dockers 12, Magpies 6, Koboni 4 Tigers 4.