Seiba double helps Wigmen edge Dabaris in round 6

A CRYIL Seiba double helped the Hela Wigmen claim a 24-20 win over the Central Dabaris in their Digicel ExxonMobil Cup round six fixture at Santos National Football Stadium yesterday.
It was the defending premiers’ second win on the trot and gets their title defence hopes back on track after a slow start to the 2023 season.
The Kroton-sponsored side were given a scare by a spirited Dabaris outfit who put up a strong effort and were never out of the contest.
Wigmen started strongly with back-to-back tries to winger Seiba and second-rower Murray Conors in the opening 10 minutes with captain and halfback Solomon Pokare slotting both conversions for a 12-0.
The Dabaris fight-back was just as impressive two tries in two minutes to level the score at 12-12 by the 20th minute. Dabaris tries were scored by five-eighth Matthew Wawe and fullback Moses Damena.
Wigmen took a two-point lead into half-time when Pokare kicked a penalty goal. Both teams were ill-discipline in the second-half which saw six players being sin binned for dangerous and cynical play.
The Steven Gunua-coached Dabaris took the lead for the first time in the game when they took advantage of Hela’s one-less defender in the line following Peter Dagi’s sin binning and centre Lega Batia to crossed out wide in the 60th minute.
Wallen Tau-Loi missed the conversion and Dabaris led 16-14. Dabaris forward Bernard Goma was sin binned in the 65th minute for a late shot and Pokare equalised with a penalty.
Dabaris were down to 11 men when front-rower Mondo Laki was binned for decent and Seiba went over in the corner.
Fullback Kaupa Sipa extended Wigmen’s lead to 24-16 when he scored eight minutes from full-time.
Dabaris made a late charge once they returned to their full complement and Batia barged his way over to complete his double in the 75th but the Wigmen defence held firm until the final siren.
Wigmen coach Seth Rip said the two wins had bolstered his side’s confidence.