Tigers keen to rebound

Sports

THE Lae Tigers take on the Hela Wigmen in round nine of the Digicel Cup on Sunday with coach Stanley Tepend hoping his side can bounce back after their first loss of the season last month.
Grand final nemesis the Agmark Gurias got the better of the defending champions, 22-14, in their round eight clash in Kokopo on June 24 before the competition went into a two-week recess because of the elections.
Before that the Tigers had won their first seven matches including a 40-0 thrashing of the Gurias at the Lae Rugby League gOval in round one followed by a 20-16 win over the Wigmen in Port Moresby.
Having started their pre-season training earlier than most clubs, the Tigers hit the ground running and are still favoured to take out the minor premiership.
With a capacity crowd expected in Lae, Tepend said his side were keen to get back onto the field and continue their drive to the finals.
“We got beat by the Gurias in our last game and I think we were a bit complacent and relaxed going into that game,” Tepend said.
“The Gurias were a better side and wanted it more than us.”
“The two weeks off has really helped us refresh and we’re ready and hungrier. We’ve used the break to reset, recover from injuries and we’ve train well focusing on our defence. The side’s really up for the game against the Wigmen.
Tepend said his side had to contend with the run of injuries as well as addressing disciplinary issues but he was happy they would be getting back to action and focusing on their premiership defence.
“We’re a club that is big on discipline and we are not a one-man team so the group always come first and if players step out of line we take appropriate steps.”
Tepend admitted that one of the areas he wanted improvement on was their fifth-tackle plays. He said the conclusion of a set was the most crucial area that needed to be controlled for the team’s offence and defence to kick in.
“We’re sure the Wigmen will be up for this game after we beat them in Port Moresby and I’m sure their fans will turn out in numbers so I’m calling on Tigers fans to come in numbers as well and back us.”
In other news, the Mendi Muruks-Port Moresby Vipers game will be played at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.
The Muruks will no longer host home games at Joe Keviame Oval in Mendi after the PNGRFL judiciary made a ruling last week based on the venue’s inadequate toilet and seating facilities as well as spectator intimidation and an incident in the round eight match against the Wigmen where the match ended prematurely with the Muruks leading 8-6.
Rd 9 fixtures: Sun, July 16 – Vipers v Muruks, Tigers v Wigmen, Lahanis v Gurias, Mioks v Tumbe. Standings: Tigers 14, Gurias 11, Muruks 10, Wigmen 9, Mioks 8, Lahanis 6, Tumbe 6, Vipers 0.