Kenake’s late field goal steals a draw

By LARRY ANDREW
FIVE-eighth Towari Kenake’s field goal in the 70th minute enabled the Hela Wigmen to force a 15-15 draw with the Enga Mioks last Saturday’s Digicel Cup match in Lae.
It was the first of a two games in the semi-professional competition in the Morobe capital over the weekend.
The match went down to the wire as the Wigmen secured third spot and a finals place.
The Wigmen were first on the scoreboard with a converted try to Kenake in the early stages of the match, however, the Engans bounced back with an unconverted try from Kingston Paul to trail6-4.
The Wigmen pack led by former Tigers enforcer Roy Kela paved the way for left winger Melvin Paul to score their second try.
Kenake added the extras to extend the tally to 12-4.
The Mioks regrouped after that and continuously pounded the Hela defence resulting in a try out wide by Mathew Puke but halfback Roger Laka converted from a difficult angle to cut the margin down to two points.
Minutes into the second half referee Robin Talopa was on the spot to penalise Mioks for a high tackle. Kenake added the two points to put the Hela’s ahead by four.
The game seesawed and on the third tackle inside Wigmen territory Mioks hooker Hood Kawage swung the ball to the left going through several hands before it landed in Junior Bobby’s hands.
The Gulf man, in a man-of-the-match performance, drew two Wigmen defender before offloading to centre Daniel Tapol who dived over in the corner to equalise 14-14.
All eyes were on Laka to make a difference but the halfback’s attempt at goal went wide.
Bobby slotted a field goal for Mioks to take the lead for the first time and was set to wrap up the match.
But the fight to stay in contest by Wigmen changed the scenario when Kenake equalised through a field goal with 10 minutes on the clock to end the match locked in a a 15-15 draw.
Wigmen 15 (T.Kenake, M.Paul tries, Kenake 2 con, 1 pen, 1 fg) Mioks 15 (K.Paul, M.Puke, D.Tapol tries, R.Laka 1 con, J.Bobby 1 fg)