Souths win POMRFL U20 crown

By ROBINSON LEKA
AN extra-time field goal by five-eighth Godfrey Make saw Souths claim the Under-20 Port Moresby Rugby Football League title with a 9-8 win over Butterflies on Sunday.
The opening match on grand final day at the Oil Search National Football Stadium saw an even contest with the division’s top-two defensive sides doing battle.
Butterflies broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with hooker Shaun Patrick slicing through defenders to score his side’s first and only try of the final.
Souths responded 12 minutes later through utility Anderson Ala with some footwork to dodge past defenders and cross over under the uprights.
Make added the extras to give Souths a 6-4 lead at halftime.
Fatigue crept in after the break with both sides unable to make use of their combinations in humid conditions.
Sloppy Souths defence saw Butterflies take advantage with Patrick converting two quick penalty goals for an 8-6 lead.
With Ala at dummy-half, Souths found their way back into the game as Butterflies’ efforts to slow down the ruck saw referee Dickson Tasi awarding Souths a penalty one minute from fulltime.
Make converted his third goal to force the match into extra time after an 8-8 draw at fulltime.
A shaky Butterflies defence allowed Souths to find space in their red zone in the opening half of extra time as Make took his position and slotted the winning one-pointer.