Brown double sees Wigmen grab win over Cutters

Sports

CENTRE Norman Brown bagged a double to help Hela Wigmen beat Kimbe Cutters 22-14 in round six of the Digicel Cup at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
Winger Siki Konden and second-rower Peter Dagi each scored a try to help the hosts back into the winner’s circle.
The Lucas Samak-coached Cutters’ hopes of registering their first win were dashed by a strong Wigmen outfit as the visitors suffered their sixth-straight loss of the season.
The Wigmen entered round six with determination after suffering a heavy defeat by reigning premiers Lae Tigers in round five, but they ran in with four tries to keep the Cutters rooted to the bottom of the 12-team ladder.
The Kroton-sponsored Wigmen struck first when five-eighth Tony Wemin sent Peter Dagi over for an unconverted try.
The Cutters then lost possession in their own territory minutes after the opening score as coach Seth Rip’s home side capitalised on the loose ball and found Brown for his first try.
The West New Britain government-sponsored Cutters kept their fans’ hopes alive when David Tetefo scored a try under the uprights off a Jah Hogan grubber kick.
The converted try reduced the deficit by four as the Wigmen led 10-6 at halftime. In the second stanza, Cutters applied pressure on Wigmen playmakers Solomon Pokari, Allan Simbiri and Tony Wemin who could not complete their attacking plays.
An individual effort from the man of the match, Brown, put the Wigmen ahead when he raced from dummy-half to complete his double under the uprights.
Cutters playmaker Hogan kept their faint hopes alive when he sliced through the Wigmen’s defence for a try on the right edge.
Brown was hard to handle by the Cutters’ left edge as the former SP Hunter kept them on their toes. The flyer set up Konden to seal the game before the Cutters scored a consolation try.
Brown said the win was a good rebound.
“We learnt from our mistakes last week, and it was good to get the win,” he said after the round six match in Port Moresby.