Tigers roar in Sigatoka

THE Melanesian Cup will remain in Papua New Guinea after the Lae Tigers’ 40-4 rout of the Nadi Aviators on Saturday.
The annual Melanesian rugby league club championship at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, Fiji, saw Stanley Tepend’s side prove a class above their Fijian opponents, taking an 18-4 lead at the end of the first-half with tries to fullback Robert Vuai, lock John Andy and centre Pasu Awane, while hooker Noel Joel kicked three conversions.
For the home side, Apolosi Ranawai crossed for a four-pointer but the difference in class and experience was evident as the Aviators struggled to complete their sets through a procession of handling errors.
The Aviators managed to complete only three sets of their 35 sets.
Featuring Hunters players and Kumuls, the Snax Tigers rolled through their sets and continuously built pressure as a gallant but over-matched home side fought hard in defence.
Despite having less than a thousand fans at the ground, the regional challenge was witnessed by PNG’s High Commissioner to Fiji Lucy Bogari and her delegation and officials of the Fiji National Rugby League, PNG Rugby Football League, international facilitators and sponsors.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in honour of Tigers sponsor and patron the late Sir Henry Chow, who passed away last month.
The Tigers crossed in on the 4th minute through Vuai, who dotted down under the uprights after taking an offload from Andy. Joel slotted the conversion for a 6-0 lead.
Andy bulldozed his way over in the 13th minute and Joel converted for the visitors to be 12-0 ahead without the Aviators having laid a foot in the Tigers half.
The Tigers established their dominance in the middle third and this opened up opportunities for the back line with three-quarter Awane muscling his way in the corner for their third try.
Joel again showed his ability as a goal-kicker nailing the sideline conversion attempt for an 18-0 lead.
A desperate Aviators managed to hit back through Ranawai to trail 18-4 at the interval.
The second stanza was all Tigers as a tiring home side could not hold out the fast-finishing Tigers who piled on 22 unanswered points.
Centre Charles Martin was the first to score in the second half after taking a cut-out pass from David Loko.
Reserves Wessa Tenza and Ryan Kiso both scored in quick succession as the rout continued several defenders up the middle before offloading. Joel missed the goal for the Kiso try but finished with a tidy six from seven attempts.
Andy’s second half efforts were enough to earn him the man-of-the match award as the Tigers held their own against the bigger Aviators pack.
Stand outs for the visitors were Kiso, Loko, Junior Rop and Timothy Lomai in the forwards while captain and five-eighth Charlie Simon led the side with aplomb.
Backs Awene, Martin, Tenza and Vuai all impressed as well.
A small PNG community comprising residents and students showed up to support the PNG Digicel Cup champions.
Simon thanked the fans that turned out to watch the match and acknowledged the sponsors including franchise owner Ian Chow and the Lae Biscuit Company through its Snax brand.
Aviators coach Vela Tawake said the game was a huge learning curve for his players.
He said basic mistakes and incomplete sets contributed to the loss.
“This game taught us many good lessons,” Tawake said.
“Basic mistakes such as missed tackles, dropped passes and poor ball handling in tackle situations affected our game.
“This is a good experience for the players and big learning curve as well.”
Tawake congratulated the Tigers for their win.
Tigers coach Tepend commended his troops for their clinical display.
He said the two months of preparation had paid off.
“We are happy with our effort and I thanked the boys for the win,” Tepend said.
“We have been preparing for this game for two solid months and we have achieved our target.”
The Tigers travelled into Fiji last Thursday and stayed at the Uprising Resort along Pacific Harbour.
They were welcomed on arrival at Nadi International Airport by Aviators president Joe Gray and the media.
Gray said the Aviators were keen on learning from the Tigers and developing a relationship with PNG rugby league.
The Nadi Aviators are last year’s champion of the domestic Vodafone Inter Zone competition.
The Aviators comprise the best from Nadi clubs Ravoravo Rabbitohs, Sabeto Roosters, Nadi Eels, Navatulevu Herons, Momi Tigers, Savunawai Storms and Malawai Sea Eagles.
Sabeto Roosters, who were the 2015 champions of the old Vodafone Cup format, lost to the Agmark Gurias 42-2 in Port Moresby when the Melanesian Cup was first played in 2015.
The Tigers return home today.