Richard scores hat-trick as Panthers thrash Dragons

By NATHAN WOTI
FARISA Richard scored a hat-trick and ex-Hunter Junior Bobby bagged a double as Papg Panthers thrashed Morata Dragons 38-0 on day four of the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC) NCD leg at Bava Park in Port Moresby yesterday.
A star-studded Panthers had ex-Hunters Bobby, veteran Roger Laka, Kumul Stanford Talita, and Digicel Cup players Raphael Robert, Peter Mondo, Richard and Billy Mano who were just too good for the Dragons.
Panthers skipper Bobby scored the first try on the back of a neat assist by Talita from close range.
Bobby added the extras to get the party started.
Panthers got into the Dragons 20m from an offside penalty and proceeded to toy with the Morata defence before posting their second four-pointer with Bobby slotting the goal for a 12-0 lead at halftime.
Dragons lifted in the second half with Michael Chris and Allan James leading the charge but the more experienced Panthers absorbed the pressure and then hit back with a penalty by Bobby for a high tackle.
It was at that point that Paga’s offence shifted a gear and playmaker Laka took control.
Laka and hooker Jeffrey Para set up a well-worked try to Bobby, who ran 30m before touching down for his second which he converted for an 20-0 lead.
Para had a hand in the next try scored by Robert who split two defenders to crash over with Bobby banging it over for a 26-0 score line.
The Dragons tried their best to get into the contest with five-eighth Pomei Nyama probing for openings and trying to put his runners through holes.
Panthers wing Richard Mano broke through some flimsy defence to post his side’s fifth try which saw the speedster race 70m to go in under the uprights.
Bobby’s conversion was a formality as the Panthers pushed out to 32-0.
Laka and Talita combined to add the final nail in the Dragons coffin when Richard bagged his third try after collecting a bouncing ball to scurry 50m to the line. Bobby kicked his seventh goal of the match to take the final score to 38-0.
Panthers coach Hame Laki said he was impressed by his side’s control and execution albeit against an outgunned opposition.
He said the side would stay focused as the finals were a different type of football.
Meanwhile, Dragons coach Fraka Kairi said that his side took on one of the tournament’s best sides and said they did their best despite the result.