Eagles in line for top finish

 By MELTON PAIS
THE Mt Hagen Eagles are guranteed a top-two finish in the 2016 Digicel Cup after thumping the  Port Moresby Vipers 32-18 at National Football Stadium on Sunday.
The Eagles have the final round of the regular season off with the bye and James Kops’ men look forward to entering a finals series with a releastic chance of making the grand final for the first time since 2008 when they were beaten 14-4 by the Mendi Muruks.
In many ways the Eagles’ rise in 2016 mirrors that of the unfancied Simbu Lions, who made the playoffs last year and went on to make the final after several unimpressive seasons in the lead-up.
The Eagles could still finish the season on top if the Lions do the unthinkable in Lae this Sunday and beat the No.1 side – Lae Tigers.
It is an unlikely scenario but stranger things have happened in Papua New Guinea’s semi-professional rugby league competition.
The Wamp Nga-sponsored franchise have become genuine title contenders with hardly any recognisable names in their ranks save for veteran forward Francis Ray and 2015 Prime Minister’s XIII representative Junior Rau.
The new brigade led by tear-away forward Nixon Put and fullback Micah Pia have left an imprint on the season and given Eagles fans something to cheer about.
Sunday’s game was supposed to be hosted by the Eagles in Mt Hagen as a home game as per the official draw but the Eagles obliged the PNG NRL by taking their home fixture on the road to the national capital.
They were never in any danger of being the “visitors” as the city’s Western Highlanders stayed on to watch their side whip the Vipers six tries to four after the round 20 Q-Cup clash between the Hunters and the Easts Tigers.
The Eagles showed their hand in the second minute of play and shot out to a 16-0 lead thanks to tries to Put (2) and Joe Kingal.
The home side were able to stem the flow with two tries by halfback Sebulong Ragi to trail 16-10.
The Vipers had former Kumuls Josiah Abavu and Richard Kambo leading the way backed up ably by prop and captain Samuel Koim.
In the second half, the Eagles sealed the game with another three tries through winger Elijah Peter, Moses Meninga and reserve Isaac John to the Vipers’ two unconverted tries by Kambo and Supa George.
With an extra week to freshen up ahead of the playoffs, the Eagles are in the box seat to make a charge to the title in 2016.
Eagles 32 (Nixon Put 2, Joe Kingal, Elijah Peter, Moses Meninga, Isaac John, tries; Israel Baio 5 con) Vipers 18 (Sebulong Ragi 2, Richard Kambo, Supa George tries; Sebulong Ragi con)