Talita helps Wigmen force draw with Lahanis

CENTRE Stanford Talita helped the Hela Wigmen salvage a 14-14 draw with the Goroka Lahanis in their round 10 Digicel Cup match on Sunday night.
Talita beat several defenders to cross the line in the 77th minute to bring the score to 14-12 and halfback Benton Leme landed the conversion to lock things up at the National Football Stadium.
Lahanis captain Charlie Buka nearly stole a win with a long range penalty goal attempt in the 80th minute.
The hooker’s effort from 51m out just had the legs but not the direction fading to the left of goal posts at the Boroko market end.
The Lahanis, who were 10-8 in front, nudged further ahead after centre Norman Brown popped a pass to winger Sefa Dait to score in the 72nd minute.
The reigning premiers gave as good as they got in a torrid affair with the Port Moresby-based Wigmen and while the halftime score was 4-2 to the Lahanis, it was the Helas who took a 2-0 lead in a 22nd minute penalty off Leme’s boot.
The Wigmen struck first after the break through reserve back-rower Yaksi Kila but both sides played their hearts to settle for a draw at fulltime.
Wigmen 14 (Yaksi Kila, Stanford Talita tries; Benton Leme 2 con, Japheth Olik pen) Lahanis 14 (Norman Brown, Joseph Karara, Sefa Dait tries; Charlie Buka con).
Results: Rd 10 – Sun, June 9: Tumbe 20 Gurias 16, Dabaris 32 Vipers 14, Wigmen 14 Lahanis 14, Mioks 22 Tigers 18, Muruks 13 Eagles 12, Cutters 22 Isou 18.