Gurias reach grand final

**Muruks halfback Wesley Batari in attack against the Gurias.**

By PARKER TAMBUA
RABAUL Gurias booked their first grand final in five years after they edged Mendi Muruks in the Digicel Cup major semifinal at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
The score was level at 14-14 in the 70th minute when referee Manau Kema awarded a Gurias penalty, which saw veteran Ase Boas kick the match-winning goal from 35m out.
The Gurias will have a week off and await the winner of the clash between the Muruks and Hela Wigmen, who will both meet in a sudden-death match in the nation’s capital on Sunday.
The Agmark-sponsored Gurias scored early through five-eighth Saki Peter and Boas converted the try for a 6-0 lead in the seventh minute.
Former SP Hunters skipper Boas kicked a penalty goal in the 20th minute which extended the lead to eight.

**John Ragi Jr (left) and Mark Alunga celebrating the Gurias’ Digicel Cup grand final qualification**.

After a number of repeat sets, the Muruks finally scored through captain Charlie Simon in the 35th minute. David Joseph’s conversion saw the Muruks trail at 6-8 at halftime.
The Gurias extended their lead after halftime when forward Daniel Pai made a break and found skipper Francis Takai who scored under the uprights. Boas converted the try for a 14-6 lead.
The Muruks responded five minutes later through a corner try by winger Leon Undupie. Clent Lama failed to convert the extras as his side trailed 10-14.
The Muruks levelled the scores in the 60th minute with a try through Lama himself. Lama could not add the extras as the scores remained at 14-14. Two minutes later, Boas kicked the decisive penalty goal to seal the win.
Simon went for a two-point field in the final, but the former Hunter’s attempt was unsuccessful.
Results: Sun, Sept 11 – Muruks 14 Gurias 16, Wigmen 16 Tigers 14.

Late Pokari penalty goal helps Wigmen end Tigers’ title defence

**Mendi Muruks front-rower Ismael Waine taking on the Gurias defence.**

HELA Wigmen ended Lae Tigers’ title defence with a 16-14 win in their Digicel Cup minor semifinal at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby last night.
The Kroton-sponsored hosts led 14-4 at halftime, but the Lae Biscuit Company-backed Tigers clawed their way back in the second half to level the scores and force the game in a nail-biting finish.
Solomon Pokari’s penalty goal in front of the post in the 60th minute saved the day for the Wigmen.
The Wigmen will face Mendi Muruks, who lost to Rabaul Gurias early yesterday, in a sudden-death match on Sunday.
Wigmen fullback Sylvester Bulu opened the scoring with a corner try off a set move in the seventh minute. Tapia Solu’s conversion saw them lead 6-0.
The next 20 minutes of the game was interrupted with a lot of stoppages due to handling errors and injuries.
The Tigers responded with a corner try through dual-code athlete Max Vali. Nicky Hasu failed to convert the extras as Tigers trailed by two points.
Former SP Hunter Norman Brown showed his class when he bagged a double in the space of six minutes. Halfback Pokari had a hand in Brown’s unconverted tries. The Wigmen took a 14-4 lead at halftime.
The Tigers had limited possession in the second half due to errors and ill-discipline. But despite the Wigmen’s majority of possession, the Tigers defended well for 10 minutes.
The visitors scored their second try when Hasu attracted a couple of Wigmen defenders and put his winger Joe Honk into space as he ran 60m to score under the uprights.Hasu’s conversion saw his side trail 10-14.
The Tigers scored again on the same edge through livewire fullback Sanny Wabo off the kick restart.
Hasu missed the conversion from beside the uprights which proved costly as Pokari slotted the penalty goal five minutes later.