The Digicel Cup 2013-PNG National Competition

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Round 18 results

1. Goroka Lahanis 52 Mt Hagen Eagles 10
2. Rabaul Gurias 54 Enga Mioks 20
3. Hela Wigmen 20 Lae Tigers 0
4. Simbu Lions 16 Port Moresby Vipers 28
5. Gulf Isapea 28 Mendi Muruks 30

 

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The Points Ladder after Round 18

1. Goroka Lahanis 27
2. Rabaul Gurias 24
3. Port Moresby Vipers 24
4. Enga Mioks 22
5. Lae Tigers 20
6. Hela Wigmen 16
7. Simbu Lions 16
8. Mendi Muruks 13
9. Gulf Isapea 9
10. Mt Hagen Eagles 9

 

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Gurias hitting some form. Ase Boas and Dion Aye back in action

 

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Round 18 summery.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54241

Gurias explode

Source:
The National, Monday August 12th, 2013

THE Rabaul Gurias turned on the class thrashing a game but out-gunned Enga Mioks 54-20 at Kalabond yesterday.
The Round 18 match-up was supposed to be a fight for second spot but instead turned to a showcase of the East New Britons’ attacking flair as they piled on 11 tries in an ominous sign ahead of next Sunday’s Digicel Cup home playoff match.
The Gurias will now play the Port Moresby Vipers, who ground out a 28-16 win over the Simbu Lions in Kundiawa. The match will be played at Kalabond.
Gurias’ winger Boas Ruru set the tone with a try in the 10th minute for a 4-0 lead. There was no respite over the next 30 minutes as the home side scored through William Akuila (2), Emmanuel Toide (2) and five-eighth Dion Aiye to have the match all but won at 30-4 going into the break.
The Engans only points of the opening half came via a Jeffrey Maino-try in the 25th minute.
The Gurias were first to score in the second stanza through Adrian Baulgas while former rugby 7s representative Nelson Daplen helped himself to a double. There was some fight left in the Mioks as Philip Dama and Alistair Wak hit back for the visitors.
Francis Paniu and Quintine Regi made sure off the result with the tries to see the Highlanders cop a record caning at the “graveyard”.
Kumul backrower David Loko scored the final try of the game to give the Mioks some kind of momentum heading to their sudden death match against the Lae Tigers.
The defending champions are favoured to keep their impressive home record at Kalabond when they take on the Vipers this weekend.
The capital city franchise will take a lot from their brave performance against the Lions at Dickson Oval but they will need to lift their game several more nothces to match the Gurias at Kalabond.
The loser of this playoff match still has a life as they play the winner of the Tigers-Mioks clash in Port Moresby.
With Michael Marum’s men firing at the right end of the season the Lahanis loom as their most likely opponent for the second week of the playoffs.
A Lahanis-Gurias grand final is still a likely possibility.
Gurias 54 (B Ruru, W. Akuila 2, E Toide 2, D Aiye , A Baulgas , N Daplen 2, F Paniu , Q Ragi tries; A Boas 2, F Paniu 3 con) Mioks 20 (J Maino, P Dama, A Wak, D Loko tries; R Laka 2 con). HT: 30-4. Venue: Kalabond, Kokopo, ENB.


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Lahanis cap season off with big win

Source:
The National, Monday August 12th, 2013

THE Goroka Lahanis showed no signs of complacency in their 52-10 demolition of wooden spooners, the Mt Hagen Eagles, at the National Sports Institute in Goroka yesterday.
Lahanis’ centre Kevin Inagafa was named man of the match after bagging four tries – two in each half.
Inagafa opened the scoring in the fifth minute and the hosts never looked back, enjoying a 16-10 halftime lead before pouring on 36 unanswered points in the second half. The Eagles’ points came from tries to Daniel Pai and Ale Kiku and a Lionel Ongi conversion.
The big win, witnessed by Governor Julie Soso and a host of other VIPs, caps off a solid season for the 2011 champions, who finish on top of the Digicel Cup ladder with 27 points after 18 rounds and claim the minor premiership.
Other Lahanis standouts on the day were Noel Zeming, Felix Tatsim and Spirro Mikaive, all backs who made full use of the platform set by a dominant pack.
The Lahanis will now sit out the first week of finals and are scheduled to face the winner of the second-versus-third playoff between the Rabaul Gurias and the Port Moresby Vipers this Sunday in Kokopo.
The Lahanis will play their first finals match on Aug 25 at the NSI, with the winner advancing to the grand final on Sept 8.

 

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Marabe shows true grit

Source:
The National, Monday August 12th, 2013

THE Port Moresby Vipers enforcer Larson Marabe led by example to secure a shot at reigning champions Agmark Gurias in the Digicel Cup rugby league preliminary final showdown slated for Kokopo this Sunday.
The man from Hela was like a raging bull as he led his forwards in a man-with-a-mission type performance to upstage the normally hard to beat TNA Lions 28-16 at their home ground, Dickson Oval, in Kundiawa, yesterday.
Vipers coach Leonard Tarum yesterday said his forwards led by Marabe, Steven Johns, Adam Korave and Dick Nap laid the foundation for the win.
Kumul fullback prospect Josiah Abavu, who has not scored in recent weeks, finally broke his try-scoring egg with a try, alongside Marabe, Korave and Elizah Riyong who all etched their names on the try-scorers list.
The Vipers elevation to third spot was helped by the Gurias 54-20 annihilation of the Enga Mioks at the Kalabond ‘graveyard’.
Minor premiers Goroka Lahanis showed they mean business with their 52-10 thrashing of the Mt Hagen Eagles to take out the minor premiership.
They will sit out this weekend and wait for the winner between the Gurias and Vipers in the major semi-final next weekend.
The loss by the Mioks will see them now meet the Lae Tigers in the fourth versus fifth knockout clash slated for Port Moresby.
Both suffered losses, with the Tigers getting their tails licked by the Hela Wigmen 20-0 in Mendi.
Wigmen franchise owner Firman Joseph was pleased with the way the Wigmen ended their season in sixth place. “I guess you could say everything is coming into place with the players settling in well this season and they can only get better next year,” Joseph said.
The Wigmen scored their tries through Oliver Kerry, Johnny Ke*ma, Andrew Ipi and Felix Tangue.
In Port Moresby, the Mendi Muruks finished in style, edging out Gulf Isapea 30-28.
The Muruks look threatening for next season, with hooker Stanley Ollo featuring prominently at dummy half and in general play.
Ollo’s persistence was rewarded with a try in the 61st minute. Other try-scorers were winger Elizah Anton with two, while Murphy Eddie, Isaac Mell and O’Neill Ombiolu scored one each.

 

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The PNG Digicel Cup is into the first week of finals footy this week.

The 5 teams that have made it through are:

1. Goroka Lahanis (Minor Premiers)

The men from Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province finished the regular season in top spot. They lost a couple of key players last season and were knocked out early in the finals. Have regrouped well this year and should make the grand final.

2. Rabaul Gurias (Defending premiers)

The team from Rabaul in East New Britain Province carry the hopes of all the Islands Provinces and are looking good to go back to back. The return from injury of halfs partners Dion Aiye and Ase Boas last week has given them a big boost.

3. Port Moresby Vipers

The men from the PNG Capital had an important away win last week to climb up to third spot. The Vipers have a very good 2013 season compared to years gone by and have a lot of current PNG kumuls players with big match experience.

4. Enga Mioks

The men from Enga province usually choke around this time of year and it will interesting to see how they fare.

5. Lae Tigers

The men from PNG's 2nd largest city went on a recruitment drive after the disappointments of the last 2 seasons. They were leading the competition at the half way mark but injury and suspensions have pulled them back.

 

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Finals Fixtures

1. Qualification Final
Team 2 vs Team 3

Rabaul Gurias Vs Port Moresby Vipers Venue: Kalabond Oval, Kokopo

2. Elimination Final
Team 4 vs Team 5

Enga Mioks vs Lae Tigers Venue: Loyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby


Minor Premeirs Goroka Lahanis are on bye

 

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Links below to the Rabaul Gurais facebook page showing 3 very different tries score last week against the Enga Mioks.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153134316690360&set=vb.794540359&type=2&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153134285465360&set=vb.362536983845194&type=2&theater


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153138236840360&set=vb.794540359&type=2&theater

 

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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54586

Test for Vipers
Source:
The National, Friday August 16th, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA

DIGICEL Cup rugby league moves into high gear, with blockbuster finals in Kokopo and Port Moresby on Sunday.
The graveyard of visiting teams, the Kalabond, awaits the visiting Port Moresby Vipers eager to prove their doubters wrong against champions Agmark Gurias.
The Gurias are hard to beat on home soil but the Vipers are putting up their hands for a possible upset, going on their good away-form this season.
Gurias coach Michael Marum yesterday said he was expecting a competitive challenge against a team that had a number of Kumul prospects eager to prove themselves.
“I can only say that apart from Ase Boas, who has tomorrow (today) to prove his fitness we have all our players from last week’s win over the Mioks intact,” he said.
The forwards battle will see Joe Bruno, Travis Waninara, Kevin Frank, Nelson Daplen and Sowei Waulas facing the Vipers engine-room that includes Larson Marabe, Enoch Maki, Adam Korave and Samuel Koim.
The battle around dummy-half between the veteran Charlie Wabo for the Vipers and Wartovo Puara Junior will make for an interesting challenge among the potential Kumul prospects.
The winner will meet minor premiers, the Gorkoa Lahanis in the major semi-final next Sunday. While the loser gets a second chance against the winner of Lae Tigers and Enga Mioks.
In the nation’s capital, the Lloyd Robson Oval is expected to be jam-packed for a fiery opening play-off when the bruised and battered Tigers look forward to a re-match with the Mioks.
Their last meeting led to several deaths and injuries to spectators, Tigers vehicles smashed and the Johnson Siki Oval in Wabag being scrapped off the venue list.
With the loser to hang up their boots for the season, city residents can expect a cracker of a match-up between two of the more aggressive sides in the competition.
For the Tigers, power-puncher on the wing George Benson will be the man to watch as he tries to add value to his selection in the last Kumul training camp.
The Mioks will only get mileage if the hard running David Loko and Esau Siune are not covered well off the fringes of the rucks.
Mioks coach Timothy Lepa will be banking on his playmaker Roger Laka to ensure this happens.

 

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Results from the first weekend of Finals footy.

1. Qualification Final

Rabaul Gurias 28 Port Moresby Vipers 8

2. Elimination Final

Enga Mioks 24 Lae Tigers 16



So the Lae Tigers hang up their boots for this year.

 

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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54652


Gurias just too good

Source:
The National, Monday August 19th, 2013

PORT Moresby’s Vipers still have to prove their detractors wrong after falling 28-8 to defending Digicel Cup champions Gurias at the Kalabond oval in Kokopo yesterday.
The Gurias began the game slowly, allowing the Vipers to score two back-to-back tries.
They finally got into the game just before half time.
The second half see-sawed but too many mistakes by the Vipers saw them drop balls and give away unnecessary penalties that allowed the Gurias to claw their way back into the game.
The opening 13 minutes saw the Vipers strike with tries through Peter Paulus and lock forward Adam Karave for their only tries of the game. Sebastian Pandia failed to convert either try.
The Gurias scored their first try 25 minutes later after a slick backline move saw Francis Paniu passing to William Akuila to score. Captain Ase Boas failed to convert.
Minutes before half-time a simple run-around from dummyhalf Wartovo Puara Jnr saw the ball channelled to Francis Paniu, who was surrounded by defending Vipers as he dived over to level the scores at half-time.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, Emmanuel Toide made up for earlier two mistakes that allowed the Vipers to score.
Jackie Marus danced his way through, pulling two defenders to send Toide untouched over the try line. Paniu did not convert the try.
The Gurias then displayed good backline and ball movement that saw Nelson Daplen throwing a pass at Paniu to score his second try of the day. Marcus did not convert.
Vipers coach, Leonard Tarum said his men had too many dropped balls and let the game slip away.
Tarum said they had lot to improve on for next week’s game.
He was clearly disappointed with the standard of refereeing.
Gurias coach, Michael Marum said the team’s win was the result of following what they had been practicing throughout the season.
Gurias 28 (Tries: William Akuila, Francis Paniu 3, Emmanuel Toide, Jack Marcus. Conversions: Paniu 1 con, Marcus 1)
Vipers 8 (Tries: Peter Paulus, Adam Karave).

 

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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54650

Halfback Laka shines as Mioks march on

Source:
The National, Monday August 19th, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA

THE Enga Mioks have survived the first elimination bout, knocking the Lae Tigers out of the Digicel Cup rugby league race with a 24-16 win at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
Staring at certain defeat, the Mioks can thank wiry halfback Roger Laka for a timely charge down late in the second-half that saw him sprint away for an 80-metre try to break the ice.
At that stage, the Lae franchise was in a commanding position and was content to run down the clock as they led 16-14.
By then the Tigers had done a mountain of work from being down 12-4 at half-time and virtually dominated their first 30 minutes with tries to centre Thompson Teteh, winger Richard Reto and centre Willie Minago.
However, when half-back Atte Bine Wabo took the ball on the Mioks 20m line and looked to kick to the in-goal, he did not count on Laka to make the decisive play.
That proved to be the ice-breaker as the Tigers were still pinching themselves for letting that try through when the rampaging David Loko sliced through the middle off a Laka pass before handing off to hooker Philip Dama to seal the Tigers fate.
The Mioks were served well through the efforts of Loko running off plays at left-centre. Full-back Jeffrey Maino and winger Charlie Simon featured in the win.

 

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Second weekend of finals footy coming up.

Finals Week 2 Fixtures


1. Grand Final Qualifier

Goroka Lahanis Vs Rabaul Gurias ( Venue: NSI Grounds , Goroka)

The winner books a place in the Grand Final in 2 weeks time. The loser awaits the winner from the Elimination Final.



2. Elimination Final

Port Moresby Vipers Vs Enga Mioks ( Loyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby)

The winner plays the looser of the Grand Final Qualifier next week. The looser waves goodbye to season 2013.

 

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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/54822

Eye on prize

Source:
The National, Wednesday August 21st, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA

DIGICEL Cup minor premiers Goroka Lahanis have come a long way after being written off by critics at the start of the season.
The Lahanis are determined to win this year’s prestigious premier rugby league honours.
They never looked like premiership material from the opening game, and with all eyes on reigning champions the Rabaul Gurias, they slogged on quietly without losing a heart-beat.
At the off-set they lost several noted senior players in Elvis Dick, Thompson Teteh and Walter Hasu to the Lae Tigers, their skipper Glenn Nami was sidelined through injury and experienced coaches Peter Danga and Nigel Hukula broke ranks for greener pastures.
To make it worse, they had a change of coach mid-season and along the way the Lahanis franchise owner in businessman Simon Sia broke all the rules by appointing a woman in Sarah Shelley as the board chairperson.
In a predominantly male-dominated sport, there were more than a few knockers because Shelley came with her own professional enthusiasm and ideas that did not go down too well with a selected few.
That has now come to pass as those decisions have paid dividends.
After 18 intensive matches, the Lahanis survived the daunting task to finish on top as the best team in the competition.
Their sterling efforts to finish on top have given them the golden opportunity to play the major-semi-final on their home-ground at the National Sports Institute.
On record, the Lahanis, like the Gurias at their very own Kalabond ‘graveyard’, are difficult to beat before their parochial home-crowd.
Shelley said during the season some unheard names in the Tatsim Brothers (Benard Jr and Felix), Supa Kokote, little general Robin Soga, Markham talent Noel Zeming and Jiwakan John Arme came to the fore.
She said while Gonzella Urakusie, Wesley Mohokule, Tatsim Jr and Adex Wera had been rewarded by being called into the Kumul camps during the season, it was hoped that their grand final aspirations could secure them and possibly others into the World Cup in October.
“These raw talents complimented our old war horses in Nicko Slain, George Aba, Yappa Karpu and Minaho Goso,” she said.
If by Sept 8 the Lahanis are holding up the prized Digicel Cup …. then Shelley will have set a record of some sorts.
But first is Sunday’s face-off with the Rabaul Gurias in a match that kicks off at 2.30pm, leaving the winner just a game away from bragging rights for the season.

 

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Speed thrills

Source:
The National, Friday August 23rd, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA

THE Goroka Lahanis are fuelled up to give the champion Rabaul Gurias a fiery welcome in the fight for the first Digicel Cup rugby league grand final spot.
With home ground advantage at the National Sports Institute, the Lahanis are in pole position to win the major semi-final in the Eastern Highlands capital on Sunday.
The Gurias are, however, a professional outfit and despite the odds against them based on their poor away record, coach Michael Marum will have something in store to inspire his players to rise to the challenge.
Both sides are filtered with Kumuls prospects for this year’s World Cup and that will add flavour to the clash of the two traditional heavyweights of the semi-professional nationwide competition.
Marum could not confirm his line-up yesterday and opted not to comment on their chances.
The Gurias forwards led by Joe Bruno, Nelson Daplen, Travis Waninara, Kevin Frank and Bradley Simon have been consistently performing with Kumul five-eighth prospect Dion Aiye and his pacey outside backs in Jackie Marcus, Francis Paniu, Boas Ruru and William Aquila.
Lahanis coach Michael Moses expects the match to be played at a fast pace, with the Gurias always dominant with their quick play the ball around the rucks.
“We have watched their games closely and see they have a natural tendency to score a lot of their tries down the left flank,” he said.
“While that is only one area, we have trained well in our defensive area to counter their game.”
The Lahanis starting line-up: Adex Wera (full-back), Felix Tatsim, Kevin Inagafa (wings), Minaho Goso, John Arme Gand (centres), Noel Zeming (five-eight), Robin Soga (half-back), Wesley Mohokule (prop), Yapa Kapu (hooker), Gonzella Urakusie (prop), Nicko Ubile, Supa Kokote (second-row), Bernard Tatsim Junior (lock).
The reserves: Spiro Mikaive, George Abba, Micah Soboni, Waisy Joe.

 

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Loko leads charge

Source:
The National, Friday August 23rd, 2013

ENGA Mioks powerhouse runner David Loko is set to destroy the Port Moresby Vipers hopes in the Digicel Cup rugby league knock-out clash at the Lloyd Robson Oval on Sunday.
Touted as a walk-in player for the Kumuls heading to the World Cup in England in October, Loko looms as the game-breaker for the Enga provincial government-sponsored franchise.
Although likely to wear his usual number 11 jersey, Mioks coach Timothy Lepa will again use his trump-card at left-centre to add bite to their offence.
Lepa yesterday said they had nothing to lose and he was confident he had the ammunition to blow the Vipers away.
For the Vipers, coming off an after-match incident that was headlined by the media this week, has not affected the team’s morale.
Vipers coach Leonard Tarum yesterday reiterated his call he did not condone what three of his players and an official did to end up in court.
He said they had back-up players to fill in for regular starters Michael Mark on the wing and playmaker Peter Paulus.
Mark, Paulus, Tobi Kopi and assistant coach Paul Komboi have been banned for the rest of the season by the Papua New Guinea Rugby League for the alleged attack on a referee in Kokopo.
Tarum said he expected the crowd to be predominantly for the Mioks and the atmosphere high with expectations to knock them out.
“This has in fact brought the players much closer and they are more determined to step up for the challenge,” he said.
Vipers rake Charlie Wabo and halfback Israel Eliab look to be coach Tarum’s last throw of the dice to throw off that premiership pretenders tag.
Skipper Larson Marabe is expected to again put his body on the line with fellow forwards Adam Korave, Sebastian Pandia, Enoch Maki, Samuel Koim, Dick Nap and Steven Johns given the task to deny the Mioks bombardment.
The Mioks starting line-up: Jeffrey Maino, Tiger Emere, Sonny Daing (, Thomas Kungi, Loko (centres), Charlie Simon (five-eight), Roger Laka (half-back), Esau Siune, Werr Mark (props) Philip Dama (hooker), Steven Taun, Paul Kambi (second-row), Andrew Sipil.

 

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Semi Final Week 2 Results.


1. Grand Final Qualifier

Goroka Lahanis 15 Rabaul Gurias 14



2. Elimination Final

Port Moresby Vipers 26 Enga Mioks 16

 

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So minor premiers Goroka Lahanis have booked the first spot for the Grand Final in 2 Weeks time.

They will await the winner from this weeks game between the Rabaul Gurias and Port Moresby Vipers.

 

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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/55058


Lahanis swoop

Source:
The National, Tuesday August 27th, 2013
By JOHN PANGKATANA

THE Goroka Lahanis have snared the first Digicel Cup rugby league grand final spot.
That follows the Eastern Highlands franchise’s dramatic 15-14 win over reigning champions, the Rabaul Gurias before a boisterous home crowd at the National Sports Institute in Goroka on Sunday.
An estimated 3,000-strong crowd went into a frenzy as Bena product and rookie halfback Robin Soga landed a field goal to break the 14-14 deadlock in the final 10 minutes of the major semi-final.
The Lahanis will now standby for the 2013 Digicel Cup decider on September 8.
They play the winner of this Sunday’s preliminary final between the Gurias and the Port Moresby Vipers.
The Vipers beat the Enga Mioks 28-16 in the knock-out clash at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby.
The win by the Lahanis continues their mercurial rise to prominence this season after they were written off following the departure of senior players and coaches.
An overwhelmed Lahanis franchise owner Simon Sia described the win as courageous against a quality side in the Gurias.
The Lahanis will have some work to do before that as the Gurias had them on the ropes on several occasions.
The Lahanis led 6-0 from a try to prop Gonzella Urakusie, but it was the East New Britain franchise that took the helm in a 30-minute spell to throw caution to the wind of an unexpected party pooper to half-time.
It was poetry in motion as the visitors silenced the crowd with successive tries to potential Kumul centre prospect Francis Paniu and half-back Ase Boas.
Paniu was at his attacking best as he has done all season down that left corridor to slice through his opposite John Arame-Gand for their opening try.
Then when his partner in crime Jackie Marcus on the right-side did the same before finding Boas supporting on the inside for their second four pointer, the pendulum had changed dramatically.
Goroka home-boy Danny Patrick, playing for the Gurias at lock, and prop Travis Waninara complimented their backs with decisive line-breaks.
The Lahanis re-established their authority with their physical presence with inter-change forward George Abba jolting Marcus in a huge tackle and then Gand stopped fullback Boas Ruru to snuff out more tries from the Gurias menacing backsa.
The second-half saw the Lahanis firebrand lock Bernard Tatsim Jnr break the shackles and then Minaho Goso followed that up with another after some damaging runs by the bench players in Spiro Mikaive, Micah Siboni and Abba.
The Lahanis, leading 14-10, were soon short-lived when a Marcus break down the right-flank saw Boas fly through for his second try to level the scores.
That’s when Soga kicked the match winner to seal the win.
Gurias coach Michael Marum would not comment on the loss but did say they were looking forward to a positive performance this weekend to set up another meet with the Lahanis in Port Moresby.

 

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Field goal rocks Guria

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20130827/sport02.htm


RUGBY LEAGUE
By JOHN SUPA

Minor premiers Bintangor Goroka Lahanis earned the first 2013 Digicel Cup grand final spot after escaping with a narrow 15-14 win over arch rivals Agmark Rabaul Gurias at the National Sports Institute (NSI) on Sunday.
However, the win comes following a very poor and inconsistent refereeing who dished out a mammoth 14-3 penalty count against the Gurias and it appeared the Gurias were playing against two teams; the Lahanis and the referee.
The Gurias’ misfortunate and woes from losing the game further deepened on Sunday afternoon when some ‘rascals” robbed head coach Michael Marum’s mobile phone as well as a couple of his players’ phones.
The game was tough, gruesome and entertaining with the usual early exchanges of hit ups. From Lahanis kick off Gurias ‘adopted’ Goroka lad Danny Patrick, Joe Bruno, Travis Waninara, Kevin Frank, Emannuel John, Rodney Pora and king pin Wartovo Puara Jnr went into the thick of action.
The Lahanis with Kumul prospect Supa Kokote and skipper Nicko Ubile at second row, lofty props Gonzella Urakusie and Wesley Mohokule and try line sniffer Bernard Tatsim Jnr had to prove that the NSI was their own Kalabond grave yard version.
Urakusie using sheer strength powered over to score in the 3rd minute which five eighth Noel Zeming successfully converted foe a 6-nil lead.
That was short lived when the Gurias capitalised on a pathetic left flank defence to send centre Francis Paniu for their first try. Skipper Ase Boas Binuali’s solo effort try five minutes later saw the Gurias take a 10-6 lead at half time.
After the break an unnecessary delaying tackle ruling against the Gurias and the spectators booing at him saw try hungry Tatsim Jnr muscle his way over but Zeming missed the easy conversion.
Centre Minaho Goso reminisced a similar attacking style but half back Robin Soga failed the easy kick before Gurias Emmanual Tolde dived over out wide. Skipper Boas Binuali’s difficult conversion would have sealed the match but the kick went wayward and with the scores tied at 14-all, it was diminutive Soga’s field goal that rescued the Lahanis.
Gurias meet Vipers this weekend to decide the Lahanis opponents in the grand final in Port Moresby in two weeks.