HOHOLA FLIES Comeback Queens
A strong-willed second -half comeback enabled Hohola Flies to bedazzle the Hanuabada Hawks 20 – 14 in Port Moresby Rugby League women’s competition at the Santos National Football Stadium main arena. Featuring as the curtain-raiser match to the PNG Hunters vs Tweed Head Seagulls main event, it was sure to raise a few eye brows with hopes vested in the younger talent pool of players rising through the ranks given that a bulk of regulars are now playing in the Santos Cup. The win has given the Flies the minor premiership crown on top with 27 points.
The Flies were trialing 14- 4 at the break.
Hawks dual international and full back Joanne Lagona drew first blood, crossing the line early and converted her own try on the 4th minute. Logona’s opposite full back Bianca Nala also scored minutes later to make the scores 6 – 4.
Hawks replied with centre and Central Dabaris lead-woman Mareva Oda scoring a 4-pointer to take a more commanding lead up to 10 points.
Logona scored her second 4-pointer through some brilliant footwork and intuition to get behind the opposing defensive line, scamper past Nala quite easily to pull away even further with the score at 14 – 4 before the break.
Down by 10 points, the Ipi Park women reorganized during half time to produce a better performance through the brilliance of both individual and combined efforts of Serena Philip, Freda Anthony with their young half-back and Junior Orchids representative Esther Aram to come away with the win.
The second was a flurry of possession for the Flies girls who kept on pressuring their Hanuabada opponents, as frustrations over loss of possession on the Hawks’ part led to the Flies elated to pile on the points. Serena Philip, Fredah Anthony and Esther Aram all featured well in the tries scored and assisted by Philip with her kicking accuracy to eventually win the game 20 – 14 at the full-time whistle.
In the Bige Petroleum Gulf West vs Dobo Warriors match, the women from the West and escaped with a converted try, 6 point to nil.
Kawaso Defence came up trumps, narrowly defeating a more fancied Tarangau side 8 – 4 in what was considered a more defensive effort that helped Defence take the win.
Kone Storm women ridiculed the Kone Tigers lasses 10 – 0 whilst AG Energy Sanso Royals overcame the young Butterflies outfit with the 12 – 0 win, in which the Butterflies simply could not penetrate the Royals’ defensive line.
After round 15, the points ladder is as follows: Flies 27, Warriors 24, Hawks 23, Defence 20, Paga 19, Tarangau 18, Storms 17, Tigers 14, West 8, Royals 6, Butterflies and Magani pointless.
