Tigers finally through

BY MELTON PAIS
THE Snax Lae Tigers booked the first grand final berth of the 2016 Digicel Cup with a hard-fought 24-22 win over the Wamp Nga Hagen Eagles at the Sir John Guise Stadium yesterday.
The three-time minor premiers, who entered the clash with the weight of expectation on their shoulders after having failed to make a final over the last two seasons, have an extra week off and will await the winner of next week’s preliminary final between the Eagles and the Agmark Gurias.
The defending champions beat the Enga Mioks 20-6 in the minor semifinal in front of an estimated crowd of more than 6000 fans.
Tigers coach Stanley Tepend said the Eagles had been worthy opponents but he was happy with the performance of his charges.
“We’re really pleased with our performance today. Making the grand final has been the result of the hard work we put in and we’re just stoked to finally make a final,” Tepend said.
“They (Eagles) had most of the crowd behind them and they pushed us all the way but we expected them to come that way and stuck to our plan and everything worked out.”
Tigers winger and former Hunters squad member Anderson Benford bagged a hat-trick of tries (all in the first half) while fullback Robert Vuai and winger Billy Paul each scored a four-pointers for the Morobe side.
“The tries Anderson (Benford) scored might look easy but you still have to put yourself in the position to score them and I’m proud of the young guy for performing like that in a big occassion,” Tepend said.
The Western Highlanders did themselves proud with a strong effort that saw them breach the Tigers’ line four times.
Veteran Francis Ray, five-eighth Scott Francis, Micah Pia and Nickson Put stood out for the Eagles.
Having finished second in the regular season and beating the Mioks 12-8 last week in the qualifying final, James Kops’ men have one more shot at making the decider when they face the Gurias at the SJGS next Sunday.
The Eagles trailed the Tigers 18-12 at halftime despite scoring the first try of the game through Francis.
The Eagles were behind 24-16 with eight minutes to go when hooker Hood Kawage brushed off several tired defenders to plant the ball next to the post and send the match into a tense final few minutes but the Lae Biscuti Company-sponsored side had enough experience and composure to see out the clock.
Lae Tigers 24 (Anderson Benford 3, Robert Vuai, Billy Paul tries; Noel Joel 2 con) Hagen Eagles 22 (David Kawage, Hood Kawage 2, Scott Francis tries; S Francis 2 con) at the Sir John Guise Stadium. H/T: 18-12 (Tigers).