Reds sting Traders

THE Northern Reds defeated main Super 5 rivals Southern Traders 13-12 in the first day of matches in the regional rugby union tournament yesterday.
In the other match at Lae’s SCRUM Oval the Highlanders ran roughshod over the Islanders 25-9.
Southern Traders No. 8 George Oki got his side off to the perfect start crashing over from close range in the 4th minute.
Fly-half Jonah Kautu Jr converted for a 7-0 lead.
Reds then narrowed the lead  through the boot of fullback Raymond Tau in the 14th minute to trail 7-3.
Things were uneventful for most of the half until Reds winger Wally Kirika latched onto a pass to score a converted try three minutes before the break for his side to hold a 10-7 lead.
Kautu slotted a penalty early in the second half for Traders to regain the lead 12-10 but again the game took on a similar pattern with both sides failing to gain control of the match.
The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Tau stepped up to kick the Reds 13-12 in front after Traders where penalised an off-side infringement.
The game ended somewhat controversially when Traders had a try disallowed three minutes before fulltime with match referee Terence Kedea ruling a forward pass to deny fullfack Jack Maraha.
In the day’s second match Highlanders’ open side flanker Jeremy Gasowo scored a double for his side while fly-half Solomon Joseph had a hand in three of his side’s four tries as the mountain men shut out the Islanders 25-9.
The halftime score was 12-9 to Highlanders.
The New Guinea Islanders scored all their points through three penalties and were kept scoreless in the second half.
The next matches are on Saturday with Highlanders taking on the Traders and the Reds playing the Consap Development side.
The New Guinea Islanders have the bye.