The G-Hood Viking (GHK) secured a hard-fought 12-10 victory over the Lareva Dragons (LG) in a dramatic second-half comeback in the KCK Rigo Rice Cup Leg-3 Round 3 today in Port Moresby city.
The Sunday game-one delivered a nail-biting spectacle, with both teams keen to take a spot in the finals next week.
The match kicked off with intensity as GHK’s JB Dom wasted no time, scoring a try in the very first minute. However, their failure to convert kicks left the door open for LG, who responded through Larry Horope’s try in the 16th minute. With both conversion attempts unsuccessful.
The Dragons struck again in the 27th minute, with Jason Peter crossing the line. Horope made no mistake with the conversion, giving LG a 10-4 lead heading into halftime.
The second half saw GHK shift gears, tightening their defense and capitalizing on crucial penalty opportunities. Blackman Joe’s accurate boot slotted two penalty conversions in quick succession (3rd and 7th minute), setting off relief to stay in the game.
The turning point came in the 12th minute when Ian James stormed through the Dragons’ defense to score a decisive try, pushing GHK ahead 12-10.
Despite both teams trading penalties in a fiercely contested finish (GHK-5, LG-6), the Vikings held firm, denying LG any further scoring chances.
The final whistle confirmed a stunning comeback victory for GHK, showcasing their resilience and composure under pressure.