VIPERS FALL SHORT IN SEMI-FINAL

By Benjamin KOITAKA

THE PORT Moresby Vipers rugby league Nine’s team have found the venom but too little too late to bite the team Legacy as they now bow out of the grand final race.

Vipers considered themselves lucky enough to play in the quarterfinals and went on to do everything under the sun to feature in the semi-final, a game away from the huge showdown, however, were denied by a team led by fellow Papua New Guinean James Segeyaro.

The Legacy belted the Vipers in a narrow 16-11 this afternoon at the Tungun League Club Oval in Gold Coast to clamp any hopes to shoulder the Nine’s Premier League tournament’s Shield.

Coached by AFL-convert and ex-Vipers and PNG Hunters flanker Brendon Gothuno, the Vipers lost two important matches in the first day of the tournamen(yesterday) t, before went on to bag a clinical victory in their final try-out to qualify for the finals.

Vipers defeated the Arthur Beetson Foundation (24-7) late yesterday (Saturday) and vanished the confidences of CMBT earlier this morning (6-4) to booked the semi-final spot against the Legacy, but was denied in a five-point deficit.

Despite, Vipers sent most of the unknow and local talents recruited out of the NCD Governor’s Cup competition, their inaugural appearance in this well organised tournament looks promising.

Only known players included Fedro Gene, skipper Gilmo Paul, Ikiboi Lawerence, Leon Undupia and Thomas Kuipa.

Coach Gothuno commended the boys for the effort and also the Vipers management and sponsors for the exposure.

The team will travel back in the coming week.