PORT MORESBY – Their 2009 O-League hopes may be dangling precariously but Papua New Guinea’s National Soccer League (NSL) champions Hekari Souths continued their domestic domination with a 3-0 win over University.

Solomon Island striker Joachim Waroi helped himself to a brace and Papua New Guinea U-23 sensation Kema Jack chimed in with another as Hekari Souths sent out a clear message to their rivals.

Hekari Souths have enjoyed back-to-back NSL successes but have struggled to take that domestic form into the international arena in the O-League suffering a 2-1 loss to Koloale at Lawson Tama Stadium in December in front of 15,000 fans.

The match with Fijian club Ba ended in another defeat despite a crowd of nearly 8,000 turning out to cheer the Patrick Miniti-coached Hekari Souths.

There were no such disappointments at the weekend for Hekari Souths – University FC squandered a raft of gilt-edged chances in the process.

The normally reliable Neil Hans and Tau Winnie were wayward in front of goal but Waroi – a star for Solomon Islands international team – was in sharp form following the Christmas break and made no such errors in front of goal.

OFC Player of the Year candidate David Muta was in fine form for Hekari Souths and had a hand in all Hekari Souths goals.

University FC trail Hekari Souths in the race for the title but still remain one of the clubs most likely to pose a realistic threat to the champions title defence.

Meanwhile, in Lae, CMSS Tigers Rapatona handed Welgris Highlanders a 2-1 defeat. Raymond Gunemba – scorer of a sensational goal for Papua New Guinea U-23 against New Zealand U-23 last year – bagged one and Nathan Vincent the other, as Rapatona scored a much needed win. Andrew Apo has earlier given Welgris a shock 1-0 lead.

Morobe defeated Eastern Star 3-0 in the NSL’s final fixture of the round.

PNGFA NSL Results

Saturday 18 January 2009

 Hekari Souths 3 (Joachim Waroi 2, Kema Jack), University FC 0

Welgris Highlanders (Andrew Apo), CMSS Tigers Rapatona 2 (Raymond Gunemba, Nathan Vincent)

Morobe 3, Eastern Star 0