Lahanis soar over Vipers

BINTANGOR Lahanis inside centre Garnet Auwo starred in his team’s 24-12 victory over Civpac NCDC Vipers in the second last game of the bemobile Cup competition in Port Moresby yesterday.
The former Masta Mak Rangers trialist and man of the match yesterday, scored a double and had a hand in all Lahanis’ other three tries to send the Vipers away for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, defending champions SBS Muruks kept their chances alive with an upset 13-4 victory over competition leaders Agmark Guria in Lae, PNGCTL Bombers pipped Bintangor Eagles 17-16 in Mt Hagen and Toyota Mioks crushed Masta Mak Rangers 30-14 in Wabag.
The outcome of the matches also confirmed the final five of the competition with one match in hand.
They are minor premiers Guria, Mioks, Lahanis, Rangers and Muruks.
Auwo partnered well with outside centre Kevin Inagafa to give their opposite numbers Lawrence Kuso Jr and Kevin Frank a hard time in both attack and defence.
Lahanis made their intentions known in the second minute of play when five-eighth Walter Hasu scored near the uprights for an easy conversion by lock Glen Nami to take the lead.
The city boys rallied to send Frank and in-form fullback Felix Tangue over the line for the Vipers to lead 8-6 minutes from half-time.
The Lahanis, however, snatched the lead when Auwo fended off his opponents on the way to the tryline to notch the scores at 10-8 in Lahanis’ favour at half-time. After a dressing down by coach Peter Danga during the break, the Eastern Highlanders resorted to the basics and defended their line.
Eight minutes into the second half, Auwo showed his class to score his second of the afternoon to put Lahanis 14-8 in front. Super sub George Abba and outside centre Inagafa followed suit over the try line in the 52nd and 59th minute to put Lahanis in a comfortable 24-8 lead.
The Vipers tried their best but a late consolation try to Frank was not enough to bridge the 24-12 gap.
Lahanis skipper Hukala, John Milba, Sigfrid Gende, Nami Auwo, Inagafa, Walter Hasu and Bafinuc Ilai were outstanding for Lahanis.
Thomas Ninkama, Luke Kolalio, Dickson Wallen, Bobby Mori, Frank and Tangue tried their utmost for the Vipers.
Lahanis 24:  G Auwo (2), W Hasu, G Abba, K Inagafa tries and G Nami (2) goals  beat Vipers 12: K Frank (2),  F Tangue tries.
The bemobile ladder after last weekend: Guria 20, Mioks 17, Lahanis 17, Rangers 16, Muruks 11, Bombers nine, Vipers seven and Eagles seven.