Vipers sting Lions

 By JACK AMI
PORT Moresby Vipers speedster Michael Yanis put the icing on the cake in the 69th minute to down Simbu Lions 16-12 in the Digicel Cup double-header at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium yesterday.
The scores were locked 12-12 with 11 minutes remaining when Yanis touched down in the corner after a smart passage of play.
But the 19-year-old was unfortunate to miss out on the man-of-the-match which went to teammate Quinton Ragi.
It was an even tussle but again handling errors denied affected the flow of the game for both sides and but Vipers, who played with al lot of intent, created more opportunities for themselves and lokked the better side on the day.
Lions five-eighth Robin Soga scored for the TNA backed side in the 7th minute and the designated home side held a 4-0 lead in front of an estimated 5000 fans at the Konedobu facility.
The next 14 minutes were scrappy as both sides preferred to use their forward muscle in the middle third rather than looking for space and trying to create opportunities through set plays./
Vipers centre John Ragi Jr equalised and his elder brother Quinton slotted the conversion for the city side to take the lead 6-4.
Quinton added a penalty to see coach Glen Nami’s side push out to an 8-4 lead.
The Lions were also rewarded a penalty and replacement half Junior Belo kicked the goal in the 31st minute to trail 8-6.
The Vipers were awarded another penalty after a strip and Quintan Ragi stepped up to pot the goal to give his side a four-point lead (10-6) at halftime.
The City Pharmacy/Stop N Shop backed side earned another penalty four minutes into the second half and Ragi had no problems taking the score to 12-6.
Desperate for a win, the Lions applied the heat to the Vipers as the half wore on and they were finally rewarded when back-rower John Supa crossed in the 54th minute.
Soga converted and the Lions were on level pegging at 12-12 despite being behind the eight ball for most of the contest.
The match looked to be heading for a draw when Yanis produced a strong finish to  cap off a Vipers raid that saw the city men take the lead at a crucial stage.
With nine minutes left on the clock the Lions were by no means out of time but they failed to mount any kind of sustained pressure on the Vipers line.
Vipers forward Patrick Morea was twice put on report by match referee Robin Talopa for a stiff arm tackle as well as striking a Lions players for which he was sin-binned.
Lions prop Kot Kerua was also binned for a dangerous tackle in the first half as well.
Lions 12 (Robin Soga, John Supa; Soga con, pen) Vipers 16 (John Ragi Jr, Michael Yanis tries; Quintan Ragi con, 3 pen)
Results: Digicel Cup Round 6 – Sun, May 22: Isapea 18 Eagles 20, Lions 12 Vipers 16, Muruks 40 Mioks 16, Tumbe 12 Gurias 8, Tigers 40 Lahanis 6.