Tigers complete double

DIGICEL Cup minor premiers Lae Snax Tigers completed the double with a 15-4 win over the Kroton Hela Wigmen in the grand final at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
This is their third premiership after winning the title in 2016 and 2017.
The Stanley Tepend-coached Tigers scored three tries through Kafare Amos (double) and vice-captain Enoch Sine while the Wigmen managed just the one through Gilmo Paul.
Tigers playmaker Charlie Simon managed just one conversion and a field goal.
It was in the second half that the match picked up momentum as the Tigers used the experience and pace to pull away from a brave Wigmen outfit.
The first half was evenly contested with both sides keeping their defence intact.
However, the Tigers were rewarded in the 25th minute when Amos evaded several defenders to score near the uprights. Hooker Noel Joel missed an easy conversion.
The Wigmen bounced back through Paul to level the scores 4-4 in the 56th minute.
But that was all they could managed as the Tigers used the experience of Simon, Roy Kela, Joel, Junior Rop, Ishmael Balkawa, Butler Morris and captain John Andy to close out the match. Wigmen’s Emmanuel Waine, Yaksi Kila, Valentine Culligan, Stanford Talita, Richard Tuweiyo, Gilmo Paul, Ham Tina and Kerry Pep played their hearts out but were contained by the Tigers.
In the 60th minute, Amos scored his second off the back of some confusion in defence by the Wigmen.
From there on, the Tigers muscled up in defence as their halves started to manage the game.
With nine minutes, remaining Simon slotted a field goal to make it 11-4 to inch the Tigers further ahead.
But the Tigers were not done yet as Joe Joshua found Sine on the short side to close out the game in style.
Tepend said: “Our experience really helped throughout the match, especially in the second half after stretching the Wigmen and putting on our attacking plays.
“We had to tighten up our defence to ensure that the opposition were contained and I thought we did well to slow their momentum.”
Wigmen coach Andiki Andrew said: “We were inexperienced but fought bravely to match the opposition.
“They were a class above us and it showed in key moments of the match.
“It really did not work out for us in attack and defence.”