Tigers, Gurias run riot

Wigmen displace Muruks, Vipers move up to fourth

DEFENDING champions Lae Tigers and Rabaul Gurias ran riot as they thrashed the Enga Mioks and Mendi Muruks respectively in round seven of the Digicel Cup over the weekend.
Ladder leader Tigers continued their perfect start to the season with a 38-0 shutout of former SP Hunters playmaker Roger Laka’s men and the Gurias moved up one spot to third with a 48-2 victory.
In the nation’s capital, the Hela Wigmen and Port Moresby Vipers triumphed to move up a spot to second and fourth respectively at the expense of the Muruks, who dropped to fifth after their 46-point loss.
The main game of Lae’s double-header saw Tigers’ winger Sonny Wabo open the scoring with an unconverted try two minutes in.
But the Enga government sponsored-Mioks continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a penalty.
Unfortunately, halfback Junior Pokapen failed to convert.
The Tigers extend their lead (10-0) when centre Jokedi Bire barged his way over for a converted try 25 minutes in.
A minute into the second half, Wabo scored another unconverted from dummy-half to give the hosts a 14-0 lead.
As the second half progressed, a bit of scrappy play crept into the match from both sides but the Tigers remained focused to send Joe Joshua over for an unconverted try to give the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored home side an 18-0 lead.
The Tigers kept their foot on the Mioks’ throat as man-of-the-match Joshua Lau sprinted 40m before fending off Mioks fullback JB Dom to score an unconverted try for a 22-0 lead.
Lau scored his second try nine minutes later off a high kick from Charlie Simon before completing his hat-trick.
Hooker Noel Joel converted both tries to give the Tigers a 34-0 lead.
The home side wrapped up the game with Bire setting up Wabo for his second try off an error by the Mioks.
In the first game of Lae’s double-header, Kimbe Cutters winger crossed over late on the left edge to force an 18-18 draw with the Mt Hagen Eagles.
Results: Sat, Aug 22 — Rabaul Gurias 48 Mendi Muruks 2; Sun, Aug 23 — Mt Hagen Eagles 18 Kimbe Cutters 18, Lae Tigers 38 Enga Mioks 0, Gulf Isou 16 Goroka Lahanis 28, Port Moresby Vipers 17 Central Dabaris 10, Hela Wigmen 14 Waghi Tumbe 6.