Paga Panthers survive scare to edge Tigers in Moresby league

By ROBINSON LEKA
PAGA Panthers survived a second-half scare to beat a gusty Kone Tigers side 14-12 in round two of the Port Moresby Rugby Football League competition on Saturday.
The A-Grade match saw a shaky start with both sides unable to find their rhythm in attack as errors slowed the pace of the game.
A short grubber kick by Paga five-eighth Derrick Laka saw him split the Tigers defence to open the scoring with a converted try.
Under the coaching of Papua New Guinea and Lae Tigers legend Eki Ene, Kone were able to hold off Paga with lock Ezra Kara and centre Melkis Kare instrumental in defence.
The Tigers came out fighting in the second half with winger Jordan Joel crossing over on the left edge for their first try and fullback Smith Tondopa added the extras to level the scores.
Paga responded with two unconverted tries in the next 10 minutes with second-rower Manu Wapiri and centre Ipi Yai Pupu scoring in wet conditions for a 14-6 lead.
Tigers substitute Vicky Doga gave his side a boost with a try from dummy half, but they ran out of time.
“It was a better performance by us in the first half,” acting Paga coach Jeffery Para said.