Lahanis win 9s

The National Sports

By JACK AMI
THE Goroka Lahanis claimed the inaugural Under-23 National Super Nines cup after a convincing 42-20 win over the Simbu Warriors yesterday.
Lahanis’ Jar Hogan (2) and Zebedee Urumba (3) starred for the Eastern Highlands side scoring five of their side’s seven tries in an entertaining final at the National Sports Institute.
Captain Brendan Nima hoisted the cup late yesterday afternoon in front of PNGRFL executives and confederate directors after a successful two-day tournament which was used to pick a national team to the Commonwealth Championships in Redcliffe, Queensland, next week.
Hogen was the tournament’s top try scorer with nine tries (36 points) while Lahanis halfback Nicky Hasu claimed the man-of-the-match award in the final.
The Lahanis took an 18-10 lead at halftime and never looked back in front of their home crowd but their neighbours in the Warriors never threw in the towel making for some tense moments in an action-packed second half.
The Lahanis more polished attack was the difference in the second stanza as Hasu and company piled on 24 points to the Warriors 10.
Warriors Monty Gere, William Low and Steven Gari stood out in a beaten side.
In the plate final, the Agmark Gurias edged the Hagen Eagles 18-16.
Lahanis coach Michael Moses said his side’s second half performance was pleasing because they did not “take the foot off the gas”.
The cup final was kicked off by Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi in the absence of Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League released their national U23 squad to be coached by Gulf Isou coach Colin Geno.
Chairman Sandis Tsaka said the squad will be trimmed down to 15 before the team travels to Brisbane on Thursday.
PNG U23 9s squad: Jar Hogan, Nicky Hasu, Jordan Millie, Norman Braun (Goroka Lahanis), Jordan Karo (Northern Confederate), Stanford Talita, Paul Nelson (Hela Wigmen), Yabra Kuk, Schwazer Kandaki, Nemiah Joel, Joshua Jimmy (Simbu Warriors), Emmanuel Herea, Ross Ravu (Gulf Isou), John Ragi Junior, Epel Kapinias, Dickson Amba, Ilias Stanley (Agmark Gurias), Raven Johna (Mt Hagen Eagles), Rex Kaupa, Chris Taria (Southern Confederate), Colin Geno (coach), Glen Nami (assistant coach/trainer).