First half blitz helps Mioks beat Wigmen

 By LARRY ANDREW

THE Enga Mioks are keeping their finlas hopes top four hopes alive after an impressive 32-14 win over the Hela Wigmen in Lae yesterday.

The Mioks ran in five unanswered tries in the first half 22-2 lead over the shell-shocked Wigmen. Poor goal kicking kept the margin from being bigger.

Mioks posted the first points on the board through fullback Michael Gawi, who scored first of his two tries after a good lead up by his forwards to put them in front 4-0, but minutes later the lead was cut down to two after Wigmen five-eighth William Mone kicked a penalty to trail 4-2. The Engans playing in front of a good number of their fans including Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, increased the lead to 10-2 after Richard Reto, who was awarded the man-of-the-match, scored and captain Charlie Simon converted for a eight-point lead. 

The Enga provincial government sponsored franchise pushed on with tries to Rex Yallon, Reto, Joe Kingal for a 20-point lead at halftime.

To their credit, the Wigmen put up a better challenge in drama packed second 40. Reto was left dazed after trying to tackle Wigmen reserve forward Raymond Tia, while Hela teammate David Lapua was put on report for a shoulder charge and spear tackle and Mioks backrower Randy Joseph was sin-binned for starting a after the spear tackle.

The Kemele-sponsored Wigmen finally notched a try to their name through veteran Joseph Omai who planted one next to the Mioks uprights to trail 22-8.

With the clock winding down Mioks bounced back after a scrum win inside the Hela 30m that saw reserved back Kingston Pisep putting Gawi through for his second try to extend the lead to 26-8.

The Wigmen replied with a try after prop George Moni put in a kick that saw hooker Wesser Tenza win the race to the ball. 

The Mioks had the last laugh though with centre Tobi Kopi scoring which halfback Willie Guambo converted for the win.