Gurias snatch minor honours

The National Sports
Vipers hand Tigers their second-straight loss, Mioks sneak into finals
PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka presenting the minor premiership trophy to Rabaul Gurias skipper Wartovo Puara Jr. The Gurias beat Waghi Tumbe 20-14.
– Nationalpics by JOEL HAMARI

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE Rabaul Gurias snatched the Digicel Cup minor premiership after hosts Port Moresby Vipers handed former ladder leaders Lae Tigers their second-straight defeat of the season yesterday.
In Lae, the Enga Mioks beat the Goroka Lahanis to sneak into the top-six playoffs at the expense of Waghi Tumbe, who lost 14-20 to the Gurias in the final round of the regular season at Sir John Guise Stadium.
The Vipers put on one of their best defensive efforts of the year to win 7-0 as they finished the regular season in fourth spot while the Hela Wigmen secured third place with a 28-20 victory against Gulf Isou.
The first 20 minutes of the Vipers-Tigers clash was in the balance with both sides completing 70 per cent of their sets.
The Leonard Tarum-coached hosts broke the deadlock through hooker Presley Soto who set up Keven Appo to score beside the uprights.
Ase Boas made sure of the conversion to lead 6-0 at halftime.
The Tigers put on a poor second-half display which started with seven consecutive uncompleted sets.
The defending champions spent almost 20 minutes in the Vipers’ red zone but could not convert the pressure into points.
The Vipers also had a bit of possession in the Tigers’ territory 15 minutes from fulltime but they could not breach the visitors’ defence.
SP Hunters captain Boas sealed the win for the Vipers with a field goal nine minutes from fulltime.
In unpleasant scenes, Tigers prop Roy Kela left the field 15 minutes in after being on the receiving end of a hit-up by Vipers enforcer Enoch Maki.

Rabaul Gurias centre John Ragi Jr taking on the Waghi Tumbe defence during round 11 of the Digicel Cup at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday. The Gurias won 20-14. – Nationalpic by JOEL HAMARI

Meanwhile, the Gurias led 18-0 at halftime with tries to Ila Alu, Stanley Olo and Edward Goma.
Tumbe stayed in fight as they scored three unanswered four-pointers 15 minutes from fulltime through Daniel Toli, Joe Frank and John Ongol (penalty try).
However, poor handling and discipline from Tumbe saw Allan Simbiri, who converted all of the Gurias’ tries, put the game beyond doubt with a penalty goal.
Results: Sat, Sept 19 — Mt Hagen Eagles 34 Central Dabaris 18; Sun, Sept 20 – Kimbe Cutters 10 Mendi Muruks 22, Enga Mioks 14 Goroka Lahanis 12, Hela Wigmen 28 Gulf Isou 20, Rabaul Gurias 20 Waghi Tumbe 14, Port Moresby Vipers 7 Lae Tigers 0.

9 comments

  • Despite many critics by supporters from other Digicel teams supporters, Gurias have proved to be calm and keptto their game plan. May the best team win the grand final.

  • Snax Tiger needs to slot in Eddne Gabbie..they will definitely need him to play in this coming final football..

  • Tigers will still play the finals.
    I know Stanley Tepend will still name the same 17 that lost to vipers, that is if there are no injuries. Reason is simple. These 17 players have been playing and absorbing the intensity of the games week in/out, but this time with the finals, the ball game and the intensity would be different, so why risk putting someone in there who hasn’t been playing whole year round.

  • Well done Gurias. You were tipped to claim the Minor Premiership and you did. Now aim for the trophy.

    Well done Vipers for handing the Tigers their second loss and propelling the Gurias to claim the Minor Premiership.

    Gurias must be over thankful to Hela Wigmen and Port Moresby Vipers.

  • Since Lahanis are done for the season,,,Im GOING WITH THE VIPERS….you just read about their venomous attack on the Cats.

Comments are closed.