Poro open lead

Bara drop to third spot, Sepik climb to second

PORO moved five points clear at the top of the Northern Conference ladder after grabbing two wins in the Women’s National Soccer League in Morobe over the double-round weekend.
They beat Bara 3-1 in the top-of-the-table clash at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium on Saturday and backed it up with a 6-1 win over Markham Raings at Papua New Guinea Football Association Academy outside Lae yesterday.
Sepik, who were in third spot going into round five, displaced second-placed Bara with wins over Pacific Gardens (4-0) and Morobe Tulip (5-1).
Bara rebounded from the loss to Meagan Gunemba’s Poro with a 7-0 win over Goroka’s Pacific Gardens, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in second spot as they moved down a place to third – on goal difference.
After losing 2-3 to Morobe Tulip on Saturday, Madang franchise Tusbab Laidamon re-grouped and beat hosts Rainy Lae 4-1.
Cellar dwellers Rainy Lae remain the only Northern Conference side without a win after six rounds in the country’s premier football competition for women.
Above them are Pacific Gardens who have the worst attack in the eight-team conference, having scored just two goals since the start of the season.
For the Eastern Highlands side, Lae’s heat has been an issue as they look to turn their season around and move out of the bottom-three which is also occupied by Morobe Tulip.
Results: Sat, Jan 9 — Markham Raings 1 Rainy Lae 0, Sepik 4 Pacific Gardens 0, Poro 3 Bara 1, Morobe Tulip 3 Tusbab Laidamon 2; Sun, Jan 10 —Tusbab Laidamon 4 Rainy Lae 1, Bara 7 Pacific Gardens 0, Sepik 5 Morobe Tulip 1, Poro 6 Markham Raings 1.