eastern stars kept up the pressure, though, while hekari were away in ofc champions league action in late february. they defeated petro souths 2–1 on 19 february, and won 3–2 against besta png united the following weekend to go top of the league for the first time in the season. with one game to go, they were ahead of hekari by a single point with 23; however, the reigning champions still had four matches still to play. on what ought to have been the final weekend, both hekari and eastern stars won, meaning hekari needed just one point from their final three matches to secure the minor premiership. a double header against madang fox on 12–13 march resulted in two victories, 3–2 and 8–0, which meant their final scheduled match against tukoko university was scrapped.