The Mono Mutrus Brothers held off a late charge by the Talai Spartans to secure a hard-fought 8–6 victory in the curtain-raiser match of the KCK Rigo Rice Cup Grand Final at Hubert Murray Stadium on Thursday 12th June.
Despite the Mono Mutrus Brothers first to register points on the scoreboard 2-0 lead, the Spartans retaliated with a late first-half try by winger Api Alex in the final 10 minutes, showcasing their attacking grit.
However, the Mono Mutrus Brothers maintained pressure deep in the Spartans’ territory, constantly forcing defensive responses inside the 10-meter line.
The second half saw the Mono Mutrus Brothers retake the lead with a well-executed try by Sweden Taki followed by a successful conversion by Playmaker Pokapen Pes, pushing the score to 8–4. Although Talai Spartans’ Elwin Lapen managed to convert a penalty, narrowing the gap to just two points, the Mono Mutrus Brothers held their ground defensively.
Both sides demonstrated discipline, resilience, and composure under pressure. The Spartans fought to break through in the dying minutes, but solid defensive structures from the Brothers denied any scoring opportunities.
Despite multiple efforts from both teams near the 10-meter line, neither side could break the stalemate in the closing stages.
The final whistle sealed an 8–6 win for the Mono Mutrus Brothers, highlighting an entertaining performance to the Rigo Rice Cup Grand Final.
Mono Mutrus now earn their position in third place in the top 3 contenders in the KCK Rigo Rice Cup 2024-2025 season.