Mioks, Wigmen chase win to book final spot

THE Enga Mioks and Hela Wigmen will be chasing wins this weekend as they look to secure the final spot for the Digicel Cup top-six playoffs.
Minor premiers Lae Tigers (29 points), Waghi Tumbe (26), Rabaul Gurias (24), Goroka Lahanis (22) and Mt Hagen Eagles (18) have secure their places for the playoffs, which begin next weekend.
Mioks (16) take on the Gurias at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo and Wigmen (15) do battle with the Central Dabaris at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Wigmen coach Andiki Andrew and Mioks’ Roger Laka both agreed that this weekend would be their toughest round yet this season.
Andrew said with their fate out of their hands, all they could do was prepare well to secure a win and hope the Gurias beat the Mioks.
Laka said getting a win against the Gurias in their own backyard would be a tough ask but they were prepared to give their best shot for the final playoff spot.
“We are going there to play a tough game. We need to ourselves on the front foot right from the start. But that is easier said than done as the Gurias are hard to beat at home,” he said.
This is a crucial weekend for both teams and a loss for the Mioks would mean the end of their campaign this season.
The Wigmen have a relatively easier assignment against the 11th-placed Dabaris but the Central side will be equally determined as they look to end their debut season on a high note.
Fixtures: Sun, Aug 4 – Mioks v Gurias (Kokopo), Wigmen v Dabaris (POM), Lahanis v Tigers (Goroka), Vipers v Eagles (POM), Muruks Vs Isou (POM), Cutters v Tumbe (Kimbe).