Mioks see off Warriors

The National Sports

By JACK AMI in Wabag
THE Enga Mioks kept their number one spot on the Digicel Cup ladder with a 28-6 thrashing of the Chimbu Warriors in their round 9 clash in Wabag, Enga, yesterday.
Coming off their first loss of the season last week to the Port Moresby Vipers (25-24) at the National Football Stadium, Timothy Lepa’s side were never tested by the struggling Warriors with the home side holding a 14-6 lead at halftime at Aipus Oval in a match witnessed by Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas and PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka.
The win sees the Mioks improve to 16 points on the standings, four ahead of the pack.
The Gurias, Vipers, Tumbe, Wigmen, Tigers, Lahanis, Muruks, Isou and Warriors bring up the rest of the standings.
Halfback Roger Laka, Rex Reto, Woods Kawage, Esau Siune and PNG Hunters forward Baundo Aba featured prominently for the Engan side.
The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty by Felix Tysim followed by a diving effort by winger Paul Kopta for an unconverted try to take a 6-0 lead, all by the fifth minute.
The Mioks got their fans warmed up with a response by Valentine Wandi in the 16th minute to trail 6-4.
Centre Damien Harold went over and Laka slotted the conversion as the Mioks took a 10-6 lead and started to dominate the territory and possession.
The Mioks capped off the first half resurgence with an unconverted try to fullback Ben Lupo for an eight-point lead at the break.
The Warriors were willing but lacked the polish and temperament to be competitive against a Mioks side whose defence was not troubled as much as in their previous match. The second 40 was more of the same from the hosts as Newman Kunji (42nd min), Judah Wesley (58th min) and Reto (60th min) bagged four-pointers while No.9 Kawage kicked a conversion.
Coach Lepa said his side had achieved their main aim of winning, especially against a side like the Warriors, who are at the bottom of the standings. The Mioks host the Lahanis next Sunday.
Round 9 Results: Sun, June 3 – Enga Mioks 28 Chimbu Warriors 6, Lae Tigers 10 Agmark Gurias 4, Mendi Muruks 32 Gulf Isou, Waghi Tumbe 16 Hela Wigmen 12, Port Moresby Vipers 14 Goroka Lahanis 10.