Tigers lift Mendi league title

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The National, Friday 06th January 2012

GILUWE Tigers came from behind to beat defending champions Kawaso Sara Hawks 14-8 in the Mendi rugby league grand final last Saturday.
They claimed the Cup and K3,000 prize money while Hawks bagged K2,000 as runners-up.
At the Tente Oval which had been undergoing a facelift, both sides threw everything on the line to register points.  
Tigers led by the halves combination of Mendi Muruks five-eighth Joseph Bogande and young half back Alphonse Garry proved a handful for the champions.
But it Hawks scored in the first 13 minutes when second rower Jope David crossed over.
Tigers retaliated minutes later when man-of-the-match Alphonse Garry orchestrated a brilliant move that saw second rower Joshua Kombra touching down to lead 6-4.
The game intensified with several big hit-ups and bone crushing tackles that proved too much for Tigers and Hawks capitalised to see Wellington Albert scoring in the 32nd minute to lead 8-6 into the break. 
Tigers were fired up in the second half after some pep talk from coach Lesley Hondina.
With team manager Benny Yambe and fans cheering from the sidelines, Tigers stuck to Hondina’s game plan which resulted in outside centre Manzen Bongande scoring.
Then Albert crossed over for the match winner.
Hondina thanked major sponsor Yakum Dei Kewano (YDK), a businessman from upper Mendi, for his support.
He said the support boosted the morale of the players as they won the grand final.
“Without the support the players could not have made it this far.
“I take this time to thank YDK and Yambe for his time in managing the team.
We will now prepare ourselves for the Ipatas Cup. The players are looking forward to the challenge,” Hondina said.