Ravens outclass Pukpuks hopefuls

Local MP and Lae City Authority chairman John Rosso kicking off the final of the Trans Highway Rosso Cup invitational sevens rugby union in the Morobe capital on Sunday. Papuan Compound Ravens beat Papua New Guinea Pukpuks select side Barbarians 17-5. – Nationalpics by LARRY ANDREW

By LARRY ANDREW
PAPUAN Compound Ravens captain Ipson Tete went 90m to seal a 17-5 win over Papua New Guinea Pukpuks select side Barbarians in the Trans Highway Rosso Cup in Lae over the weekend.
Ravens claimed K20,000 and the Rosso Cup while Barbarians settled for K10,000 and the runners-up trophy in the Morobe Rugby Union-organised invitational sevens rugby union tournament.
In the Plate final, Huon Tech Connects – comprising Lae Tigers players – beat Kramer Auscenco Brothers 21-12 to walk away with K5,000 while the Sports Tok sevens champions claimed K3,000.

**Ravens’ Max Vali attempting to shrug off Barbarians’ Maluai Patala.**

Papua New Guinea Pukpuks select side Thunderbolts beat Lae Royals 24-14 in the Bowl final. They bagged K2,000 while Royals settled for K1,000.
Ravens wasted little time as they opened the scoring through Henry Sukumbal who dived over on the left edge for an unconverted try.
As the game intensified, Tete was taken off the field after he was tackled from behind by a Barbarian on his way to the tryline.
But that did not stop his team from continuing the momentum against the visitors.

**Ravens’ Max Vali (right) contesting a line-out against Barbarians’ Shallandrah Birney.**

The game seesawed as Barbarians’ Wesley Vali, Maluai Patala. Eliude Hosea, Kennedy Benjamin and Shallandrah Birney pressed the defence, but the hosts were resolute.
After the break, a Barbarians error prompted Ravens to opt for a scrum just 10m away from the visitors’ tryline.
Scrum-half Elias Patala made use of the scrum win to extend the Ravens’ lead to 10-0.

**Scrum-half Elias Patala scoring Ravens’ second try.**

The Barbarians responded following a missed tackle by Ravens for Hosea to score an unconverted try out wide to trail 5-10.
Hosea’s try prompted Barbarians to apply pressure on the Ravens defence, but their comeback was short-lived as Tete returned from the bench to bag the match-winning try under the uprights.

Local MP and chairman of Lae City Authority chairman John Rosso presenting the runners-up Cup to PNG Pukpuks select side Barbarians. With them are PNG Rugby Union president Pat Siwi (middle), Morobe Rugby Union patron Jacob Maragau (second left) and Trans Highway Rosso Cup officials.

“To be honest, I was carrying an injury,” Tete told The National.
“But I forced myself to get back on the field.
“That runaway try was for the team and our supporters who had supported us all tournament.
“I didn’t expect to score the final try.
“But I thank Anutu (God) for giving me the strength to sprint away for the last try.
“I also thank Barbarians for giving us a tough challenge.”