Tigers get revenge

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

MINOR premiers, the Lae Tigers avenged their first loss of the season to Port Moresby Vipers four weeks ago by beating the visitors 18-14 yesterday at the Lae rugby league ground in a gritty affair.

Viper Josiah Abavu scored an unconverted try to get the visitors on the board for an early 4-0 lead in the opening five minutes before Tigers prop Roy Kela, in a man-of-the-match performance, responded minutes later by barging over the try-line for a rare try which halfback Ate Bine Wabo converted to take the lead 6-4.

Tigers reserve Paul Kano, who came on for fullback Jeffrey Maino, won the race to Wabo’s grubber, scoring under the uprights to get his side 12-4 ahead.

The 2013 premiers started opening up the Lae defence with good second phase play and Abavu had a hand in the Vipers second try, setting up brother Bland, who ran in untouched for the capital city franchise to close the gap to 12-10 at halftime.

The second half was a scrappy affair with both sides suffering from poor completion rates.

Vipers took the lead midway through when Stagroth Amean, dived over in the corner for an unconverted try that saw Leonard Tarum’s side take a 14-12 lead.

Tigers second-rower, Paul Kambi became the game breaker when a typical bullocking run that saw him break through some tiring defence to score at a crucial stage of the game.

Wabo converted to give his side a four-point margin which they held until the full-time siren.

The Tigers will host arch rivals the Enga Mioks next, while the Vipers will take on the Lahanis.