Royals hold off surging Storm in Port Moresby clash

BY MELTON PAIS
THE Black Swan Royals maintained their winning form in the Port Moresby Rugby League beating a determined Kone Storm 18-10 in their week 19 match at the National Football Stadium on Saturday.
The Storm matched Royals in all areas of the park but it was the defending champions experience and coolness under pressure that saw them home.
The Storm headed into the clash with the scalp of Paga Panthers to their name and were given a fair shot at beating the men in blue.
They had also beaten Tarangau 10-4 in the split round.
A man-of-the-match performance by Royals hooker Robert Mase enabled his side to clinch victory.
Mase scored a brace and was busy throughout giving his forwards and halves smart service from dummy half. Storm five-eighth Jamie Kavie opened the scoring in the first half Mase struck to lock the scores at 6-6 heading into halftime.
Royals came out firing in the second stanza scoring two converted tries to the Storms’ one unconverted try.
Royals second half tries were through Mase and halfback Karis Peter.
Karis converted both tries.
Storm’s four pointer was claimed by Herbert Bero, who weaved his way through traffic to plant the ball over the line for a well-earned score.
The Royals victory was set up their pack who were effective in the opening 20 minutes before coming back to have a strong final quarter.
In the other match, Paga Panthers edged the West 10-0.
The win sees Paga maintain their spot in the top four.