Muruks triumph to regain Cup lead

By SULI SULI
MENDI Muruks returned to the top of the 12-team Digicel Cup ladder with a 23-16 win over visitors Hela Wigmen in the Digicel Cup in Lae yesterday.
Rabaul Gurias dropped one spot to second after losing 12-14 to top-four rivals and reigning champions Tigers in the main match of the Lae Rugby League Ground double-header.
In Port Moresby, Central Dabaris fought from a 10-point halftime deficit to edge visiting fellow top-six contenders Goroka Lahanis 18-16 at the Santos National Football Stadium.
Dabaris fullback Morea Morea Jr was electric in the opening minutes and created a lot of point-scoring chances.
But the hosts were left to rue their opportunities, thanks to their poor ball security, which saw them trailing 6-16 at halftime in the round-15 clash.
The Dabaris opened the scoring when Winger Andrew Solo made a line-break in the sixth minute and set up rake Mathew Wawe for a try under the uprights. Halfback Simon Arana added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
The Central side were caught napping as the Gonzella Urakusie-coached Lahanis hit back from a scrum which saw prop Ake Paluse crossed over untouched in the 13th minute. Lock Roger Kenny added the extras.
The Lahanis then dominated in attack and were rewarded when hooker Manu Mikave sliced through the Dabaris’ defence 20m out to score the visitors’ second try.
Urakusie’s men capitalised on a Dabaris error to extend their lead through winger Norman Dinoike, but the conversion was unsuccessful.
After dominating the first half, the Bingtangor-sponsored Lahanis’ defence was jolted as Dabaris forwards Bernard Goma, Mondo Laki, Sydney Koi and Rex Kaupa started to dominate up the middle. It then allowed Arana to make some inroads in attack. His cut-out pass to centre Lega Batia produced a right-edge overlap which allowed Solo to score the Dabaris’ second try. Arana nailed the conversion.
Ten minutes from fulltime, Morea pounced on a William Mone grubber kick to score the Dabaris’ match-winning converted try against the Lahanis.
Results: Sat, Aug 13 – Mioks 8 Isou 10, Cutters 12 Eagles 12; Sun, Aug 14 – Muruks 23 Wigmen 16, Tigers 14 Gurias 12, Vipers 28 Tumbe 14, Dabaris 18 Lahanis 16.