Muruks, the real deal

By KEITH PUARIA
LEFT centre Mathew Puke and wing Garnet Auwo rallied the Mendi Muruks to a thrilling 32-20 Digicel Rugby League Cup victory over Port Moresby Vipers yesterday at the PRL.
Puke turned the Vipers’ defence inside out in the 38th minute from 10m out of his line and sent Auwo the full 80m to only get pulled up short.
Robert Nandie scored from the ensuing play.
The pair again manufactured a clever blindside raid late in the second half for Puke to score, and bring the Muruks faithful to their feet.
The win sees the former champions make the top three for the first time this season after a slow start that included one victory from their first three games.
Man of the moment and five-eighth Kewa Kili was yet again in the thick of things, directing the attack with a cool head, and contributing eight points from four successful conversions off six attempts.
“Yesterday’s flight problems disrupted our preparation a bit but we managed to come good with the win,” Kili said, referring to Jacky Kuman, Paulus Mondo, and Ronnie Tenza who could not make Saturdays flight into Port Moresby and only got in yesterday morning.
“I am not satisfied with how I played but our forwards did really well and we (backline) just complemented them,” Kili added.
The cool headed playmaker’s admission that yesterday’s game was not his best begs the question even more, of how much better he can be.
The visitors set the tone for a possible dominant display with a try to forward Roy Kela from kick-off.

Malachi Owen, Charlie Wabo and Nandie were the other try scorers, but the Vipers kept themselves in the contest with tries to centre Richard Kambo and hooker Noel Joel in the first half.
The halftime score was Muruks 22 Vipers 10.
Vipers returned with a bit more venom in the second half after a heavy possible Shane Morris “earful”. Replacement forward Samuel Kion scored three minutes into play, but that was as far as the resurgence lasted.
Kumul winger Michael Mark scored another brilliantly worked Muruks try off a chip, and Puke touched down 20 minutes later.
Vipers five-eighth Israel Eliab dived over on the full time hooter for a consolation try.
The absence of “men-at-work” Larsen Marabe, has suddenly come to the fore for the Vipers.
It has not been a secret that Marabe is the X-factor to the Vipers puzzle against quality sides like the Muruks, and especially after last weekend’s 24-37 loss to the Enga Mioks.
The dominant Muruks display sends the signal ahead to the cup finals next month, and a reminder of the former champions’ ability and class.