Vipers survive fight back, hand Lahanis second straight loss

Sports

HOSTS Port Moresby Vipers survived a late fightback from the Goroka Lahanis to claim a 12-10 win and hand the 2018 Digicel Cup premiers their second straight loss on Saturday.
The Lahanis were aiming to bounce from their 10-22 loss to the Mendi Muruks in round one, but the visitors fell behind when Vipers centre Shane Nigel scored a converted try in the 20th minute.
Five-eighth Ase Boas then kicked a penalty goal to give the Vipers an 8-0 halftime lead.
The hosts extended their lead 10 minutes into the second half when winger Brandon Gotuno scored an unconverted try out wide off a set piece by Boas and centre Thompson Teteh to lead 12-0.
The Lahanis responded in the 60th minute through an individual effort by interchange forward Manu Soli who barged his way over for a try.
Five-eighth Nicky Hasu made sure of the conversion to pull the Lahanis back into the contest.
Five minutes later, the Bintangor-sponsored Goroka side scored through winger Safa Dait off a set piece by Hasu and Charlie Buka.
An unsuccessful Hasu conversion saw the Lahanis trail by two points.
The visitors produced number of raids 10 minutes from fulltime but the Vipers hung on to claim their first win of the season.
Lahanis coach Michael Moses said after the game that his team were still a work in progress.
“We always produce players from our reserve and junior systems but every year they move out after short stints with us,” Moses said.