The entire NCDC Port Moresby Vipers team that took on the PRK Gulf Isou at the Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday has been placed on report.
This was after the Isou scored a controversial try in the final 30 seconds of the match to win a match marred by several contentious calls by the referee.
The Isou match winner was scored by centre Mena Minne, but replays show that he in fact knocked the ball on.
Vipers players argued with the referee but the referee stuck to his decision, resulting in players verbally expressing their frustration in which the referee placed them all on report.
The first half was riddled with mistakes as both teams were unable to build any consistency throughout.
But it was the Vipers who would draw first blood through in form Kitron Laka.
Seven minutes later the Isou gifted the Vipers two easy point to extend their lead to 8 – 0.
The Isou showed resilience and after forcing a line drop out in the Vipers tryline, Mena Minnie would run off an inside pass from Rex Apeo to score his first under the posts.
That was just the spark the Isou needed as they forced another line drop before Josh Ericho scored for the Isous’ second try for a 12 – 8 lead going into halftime.
Nine minutes into the second half, the Isou took a two-point penalty kick after a Vipers infringement in scrum.
This followed a controversial call by the match referee not to penalize the Isou Mena Minne who clearly infringed in a Vipers play the ball on the Vipers’ try line.
Ten minutes later, Vipers Yomba Peter does a show and go and takes on three defenders to dive over the Isou posts to level the scores at 14 all.
Tempers flared between teams as the match referee made a number of controversial decisions.
In the 68th minute, Larson Marabe was sent to the bin for disrespecting the referee.
The match remained a deadlock until the 79th minute when Mena Minne scored the controversial try.
The awarded try was converted for a final score of 20 – 14.