Young Mone has impact for Souths

By HENRY MORABANG
TEENAGE halfback Willie Mone inspired PRK Souths to a 20-14 win over Post Puma in the Port Moresby A grade rugby league competition yesterday at Lloyd Robson Oval.
Mone, 18, who started his association with the code as ball boy at PRL went on to represent PNG schoolboys and has now earned a starting spot in first grade.
Playing an organiser’s role, the young Simbu does what he likes best by putting his runners through the opposition defence with his educated passes.
In the match against Pumas yesterday, Mone did not score any tries but he kicked one conversion and booted all three penalties to help his team win the match.
Mone partnered five-eighth Joel Puma in setting up their hard running forwards led by veteran David Kaiabe, Eremas Maso, Moses Magabe, Joe Teine and John Richard.
Pumas under former Muruks mentor Stanley Hondina did not give in easily.
He did field a strong team which included former Masta Mark Rangers barnstorming forward Enoch Maki, Vipers Dick Nap and Joshua Lapa.
The Souths and Pumas match was a typically bruising encounter.
Both sides opted for the physical approach with collisions and crunching tackles in plentiful supply.
Souths winger Piru Jack scored under the posts for an easy conversion by Mone to put them ahead 6-0 after 15 minutes.
However, Pumas halfback David Simon replied when he touched down beside the uprights.
Lock forward Mark Henry made sure of the conversion to level the score at 6-6.
Pumas gave a penalty away and Mone made no mistake to extend the lead to 8-6 before Pumas fullback Johnny Kema scored to retake the lead 10-8.
Just before half time, the Pumas defence was caught off-side and Mone raised the flags again  for a 10-10 scores at half time.
In the second half, Kaiabe ran through four half-hearted Puma defenders to score next to the posts for Souths to get in front again 14-10.
Halfback Mone converted to lead by a converted try 16-10.
Souths inside centre Lucas Teine scored to further extend the score to 20-10.
Kema scored his second try, a consolation really as it was not enough for his team to bridge the gap.
In the other matches played yesterday, Mairi Eagles came from behind to defeat Dobo Warriors 12-6, Butterflies shot down Kawaso Defence 30-16 and Brothers defeated Tarangau 20-18 
On Saturday,   Royals continued their fine form by defeating Kone Tigers 36-14, the village-based players for Magani taught Hohola Flies a good football lesson thrashing them 40-4, Wagambie Lawyers Paga Panthers down Kavo Wests 24-10 while Kone Storm beat Bishop Brothers Engineering Hawks 10-8.