Tigers crush Cutters 24-4 in second half blitz

FOUR unanswered tries in the second half saw defending champions Snax Lae Tigers defeat Kimbe Cutters 24-4 in the main game of the Digicel Cup double header in Lae on Sunday.
The Lae Biscuit-sponsored Tigers were first to score after good lead-up work by veteran prop and captain Roy Kela for hooker Towari Kenake to score with five-eighth Joshua Mire converting the try for 6-0 lead.
The next 30 minutes was all Cutters as they mounted a stirring period that kept the Tigers at bay in their own territory but could not convert any of that possession into points.
The second half saw the Tigers shift gears as they looked to turn the heat back on the Cutters.
Lae fullback Sanny Wabo came close to scoring falling a metre short of the chalk but the next play saw hooker Kenake put tank Tommy Moide crashing through the defensive line to score next to the uprights.
Mire converted the try extending the lead to 12-0 in the 41st minute.
The West New Britons were able to capitalise on a Tigers error for winger Mika Eliuda to grab a four-pointer against the run of play to trial 4-12.
But any hopes of building a comeback off that fortuitous play were extinguished as the home side’s rugby convert Max Vali, former SP Hunter Roy Elison and Ben Wemin bagged tries while Mire slotted two more goals for a 20-point win.
In the earlier match, leaders PRK Mendi Muruks of Southern Highlands thrashed neighbours Wamp Nga Mt Hagen Eagles 36-6.
The Western Highlanders were first on the board to lead 6-0 after 10 minutes but never trouble the scorekeeper after that with the Lae-based Southerners led ably by experienced Charlie Simon scoring six unanswered tries in a convincing victory to stay No.1.
The win sees the Muruks move closer to securing the minor premiership title forwith 22 points while the Gurias sit in second with 20 points.