Agmark Rabaul Gurias

The reigning premiers put the pressure on the Gurias right from the kick off after forcing an error.

The first points of the major semi-final went to Tigers five-eighth Edwin Ipape, who sliced through the defence to score in the 3^rd minute.

The Tigers continued to apply pressure and found the try line again in the 15-minute mark when an inside ball floated to a flying Enoch Sine, allowing him to cross over.

The Gurias were able to weather the storm and found their rhythm in the back end of the first half.

In Port Moresby on Saturday, Mioks defeated Kroton Hela Wigmen 24-4.

In today’s matches:

Waghi Tumbe defeated NCDC Port Moresby Vipers 34-18 in Minj.

Gurias took out PRK Mendi Muruks 18-4 in Kokopo.

While, Tigers beat Bintangor Goroka Lahanis 20-18 in Goroka.

In Minj, the Wigmen def. Waghi Tumbe 22-12 while in Goroka, the Lahanis def. EPG Enga Mioks 38-14.

To the game in Lae, the Tigers def. PRK Mendi Muruks 16-4.

Across to Kokopo, the Gurias def. NCDC Port Moresby Vipers 22-14.

The fullbacks from both sides scored the first two tries of the match with Konie Bernard crossing over for the Gurias and Junior Rau for the Wigmen minutes later.

After the first ten minutes, the Gurias started to dominate, keeping the Wigmen in their own half.

With playmaker Stanley Olo directing play, the Gurias hit the lead again after Olo sent Eliakim Lukara racing in to score in the 24th minute.

The back end of the first half saw scrappy play with poor ball handling from the two teams.

This was released in a statement this morning on social media.

The statement went on to say former SP Hunters player Edward Goma and Francis Takai have been suspended and stood down from training until further notice.

“The club prides itself on self-discipline and commitment and no individual or small group is bigger than the club itself.”

Coach of the Gurias, Steven Nightingale, confirmed the news with Loop PNG.

“We have a lot of young players in the club and the behaviour of senior players will influence them, whether it is good or bad,” he said.

Speaking at the presentation night at the Gazelle International Hotel in Rabaul last night, franchise owner John Nightingale thanked the players for the great season and look forward to the next season.

Nightingale said although, they were intimated by what happened before the grand final match, the players are still the best in the competition.

“We can be sworn at or stoned by the supporters, but the Agmark Gurias is still the best team in the history of the game,” says Nightinagale.

Making the announcement last night at the Gurias presentation night at the Gazelle International Hotel in Rabaul, coach Steven Nightingale told the players and supporters about the good news.

He did not mention the amount of sponsorship ISC will be committing to the Gurias, but said it will be a huge sponsorship.

Currently the ISC is sponsoring the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storms uniforms.

The Gurias today paid their respects to Pidik who passed away last night after succumbing to a head injury suffered after last week’s Digicel Cup preliminary final violence.

Gurias captain and prop, Samuel Hamari said no one had expected things to turn out the way they did after the game.

“We are truly saddened by Joe’s death and offer our condolences to his family. We are so sorry.

“We were planning to visit him this morning at the hospital but were then shocked to hear the news of his passing.

“The primitive and the uneducated action of the Hagen Eagles officials and supporters must be condemned at the highest level,” a frustrated Minister posted on his Facebook wall last week.

His comments following an assault on the match referee and Rabaul Gurias players after their semi-final win over the Western Highlands franchise team in Port Moresby.

But the comments by Tkatchenko had got a divided support on social media, with some slamming the words used by the minister as derogative to Western Highlanders.

According to eyewitnesses, Pidik and his workmates were driving back to the Moresby Betting Shop, where Pidik worked, when they were attacked by Eagles supporters with sticks, stones and anything they (supporters) could lay their hands on.

Pidik, from Watom Island in the East New Britain province, was hit on the head and immediately rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital.

The father of one succumbed to his head injury last night.