In a highly entertaining Port Moresby Rugby League Men’s A Grade Grand Final blockbuster that went down to the wire, the Sanso Royals came from behind and edged the resilient Aviat Smart Clean Solutions Kone Storms with a gritty 16-14 victory to claim the coveted trophy in front of the vocal crowd on Sunday, October 6th, 2024, at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
It has been a long time coming for the Kone Storms to play in the finals, who defied the odds and made it to the grand final for the first time after fourteen (14) years, but unfortunately lost to the formidable Royals outfit. The Storms have had a solid 2024 season, but ended their campaign on a bittersweet note.
On the contrary, the Royals have been very consistent finals contenders every season, who last won the competition in 2022. They made it to the finals last season but bowed out. The men in blue came with all guns blazing and took the 2024 competition by storm, redeeming themselves to reclaim their lost title.
The intensity and physicality of the match in the first 40 minutes reached its climax, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats to root for their respective teams. With the hype and crazy support from the fans, both sides put their bodies on the line and played with no self-preservation, leaving the half time score at 12-8, which was in favor of the Royals.
In the second stanza, the boys from Kone (Storms) leapfrogged the Royals and took things under control. The Storms were in the fight to seal the deal, but the valiant Royals used their experience and scored a late try to break the hearts of the men in purple, capping off the decider in an enthralling 16-14 grandstand finish.
Coach Junior Yambe had a sigh of relief when the full time hooter sounded, admitting that the Storms tested his boys but they stood their ground, defended the line courageously, and made a late comeback to stun the purple army.
“I’m at a loss of words. The winning feeling was great. I feel relieved. Credit to the players, my coaching staff, team management, and the sponsors, including the loyal fans,” Yambe said.
“Our discipline and relentless defence won us the game. Everyone stepped up and defended well. I’m really proud of my boys. They deserved the win.”
Comments