West open season on winning note

KAVO West started their premiership campaign for this year on a positive note by surprising Port Moresby rugby league competition hopefuls Mabey and Johnson Butterflies 22-12 in their season opener at the Lloyd Robson Oval last Friday.
The match was played in front of a small crowd all out to watch the Butterflies’ big guns, Aaron Mulunga, Johnson Kuike and Benjamin John, all playing for their local club.
Butterflies ran onto the paddock with confidence, as Mulunga and Kuike  bulldozing through Wests’ defensive line at will, carrying lazy tackles at their back and gaining easy yards.
Their first half easy tries to Kuike and flying fullback Enoch Iori, Butterflies were off for a very comfortable 12-0 lead over West, after successful conversions from Emmanuel Palme.
Players from both sides also had a bad day, coming up with silly mistakes and butter fingers were also order of the processesion.
The mistakes resulted in the two teams blowing several chances of scoring points.
The second stanza was dominated by the Sapeas.
Taking their highly-fancied opponents by surprise, the Sapeas scored through Joshua Koivie (two tries), John Orope, Joseph Turia and Malon Palang, scoring in the second stanza to pile their points to 22 points.
The team from Gulf province has recruited very well and are now looking good to create history in the Port Moresby rugby league competition, if they maintain their current form.
In other matches yesterday, Defence edged out Kone Tigers 22-18, Royals defeated Bishop Brothers Hawks 16-14, Maiari Eagles flew over KAL Magani 22-18.
In another physical encounter between the warders, Tarangau, and Dobo Warriors from Sogeri, Tarangau came out 16-4 victors.
Paga Panthers defeated Souths 16-10 in an evenly contested battle of the glamour clubs.
Enterprising and entertaining football was served for the last in the main game, between debuting club Kone Storms and reigning premiers Brothers.
The last minute fight back from the Storms saw them finishing in a 6-6 draw.