HOPES AND DREAMS ARE DASHED, ROYALS IN BOX SEAT

2023 Port Moresby Rugby League senior men’s grand finalists Hohola Flies’ and Bige Gulf West’s hopes of a top six finish have been dashed at Santos National Football Stadium as of last Sunday. Flies and West succumbed to better opponents, playing smarter in the middle and utilising fast finishers on the edges.

Hawks soared over the Flies 12- 8 in a match deemed brutal while Dobo Warriors managed to beat West 4-0 to stay within range of top-six finals footy.

The Hebou Construction sponsored Hanuabada Hawks side whilst encountering battering hits were equal to the task, kept their cool and paced evenly throughout the match to take the two points but only by an unconverted try. If this was telltale for the boys on either side of Burns Peak, the fast-paced Hohola men could not but manage unforced errors and disappointing incomplete sets to come off second best in what was thought to be an evenly contested match nevertheless.

The AG Energy Sanso Royals were too strong for the young guns Butterflies snatching a formidable victory 16 – 0 and are in the box seat to take out the minor premiership crown which is not unfamiliar ground. They last gained bragging rights in 2022 taking out both minor and major premiership back then. Could this be another year of success for them?

Pioneer clubs Magani and Paga Panthers match was not so sterling, with both teams remained at 6 points apiece when the game was abruptly called off about a minute and a half before fulltime when disgruntled players and match officials of the Magani team complaining about refereeing discrepancies wreaked havoc. The officiating referee has submitted a report to the PRL administration citing verbal abuse and threats that were unwarranted. An update on this prematurely ended match will be made in the coming days.

Kone Tigers frustrated Aviat Smart Solution Kone Storms12- 4 to keep their top six hopes alive.

Tigers and Warriors have an outstanding match pending Judiciary Committee outcome. Tigers were leading Warriors 6- 2 when the match was abandoned by the match referee in the second half.

In the other results Tarangau beat Defence 16- 8, thus handing them their 15^th straight loss.

After round 15 Royals lead with 24 points, Storm 21, Magani 20, Hawks 20, Warriors 16, Paga Panthers

15, Tigers 14, West 13, Flies 13, Tarangau 13, Butterflies 9 and Kawaso Defence 0.

Picture 1. Hanuabada Hawks Five-Eighth, Jeremiah Ben brushing aside a Hohola Flies defender in Port Moresby Rugby League round 15 at the Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday. Hawks beat Flies 12 – 8

Picture 2. AG Energy Sanso Royals centre Samuel Yap in action against Butterflies in Port Moresby Rugby League competition at Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday. Royals beat Butterflies 16 – 0.