Lahanis grind down Tumbe to make final

By MELTON PAIS
THE Bintangor Goroka Lahanis will meet the Enga Mioks in the Digicel Cup grand final after beating the Waghi Tumbe 10-6 in their preliminary final on Sunday.
The fixture at the National Football Stadium saw the Lahanis hold out a rugged Tumbe side with a 10-0 lead in the first half.
Lahanis coach Glen Nami credited his men for their composure and self-belief particularly on defence and even praised the captain Gonzella Urakusie for leading by example and having a calming influence on the side in a tense and and scrappy encounter.
“It was a good effort by us as most the guys in the pack were new boys who will take a lot out of the game especially the way we held on in that second half against a team with Garry Lo and Henry Wan,” A proud Nami said.
“Staying in there, the boys were locked up in our own area for a very long time but the scrambling defence got us home in the end.
“There were few errors on both sides especially in the ball handling which nearly cost us but fortunately my guys hung on to make make the grand final,” Nami added.
The Lahanis were first to put points on the board with an intercept try by winger Amos Kafare in the 20th minute which halfback Nicky Hasu failed to converted from out wide.
The Tumbe had the territory and possession for most of the first half but were held out by some smart and bruising defence.
The physical nature of the contest meant ball security was not always a priority and the error rate climbed.
Lahanis posted another try through hooker Charlie Buka on the stroke of halftime, which Hasu knocked over for his side to take a clear 10-0 lead at the break.
The Tumbe put on a concerted effort in the second half and came up with a try in the corner to centre Emmanuel Waine which five-eighth Israel Balio converted to get the Waghi men to within four of the Lahanis.
That try had boosted the Tumbe who pushed hard for another try but the Lahanis defence proved equal to the task.
The Lahanis now face minor premiers Mioks on Sunday at the NFS.
Goroka Lahanis 10 (Amos Kafare, Charlie Buka tries; Nicky Hasu con) Waghi Tumbe 6 (Emmanuel Waine try; Israel Balio con).