Tigers, Gurias set for battle of form

 By LARRY ANDREW
THIS weekend’s top-of-the-table clash in the Digicel Cup rugby league competition sees the Lae Tigers travel to East New Britain to face the Agmark Gurias at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
The round eight game at the ‘graveyard’ will pit a rejuvenated Gurias side against the visiting Tigers, who are both coming off wins from the last round.
The Tigers, under coach Stanley Tepend have started off this year’s in a similar vein as their previous two seasons, where they went on to win the minor premierships.
But Sunday’s clash is more than just about the competition points on offer as it will be the first opportunity the two best sides in the competition get to set down markers for the remainder of the season.
It will answer the question of who is the better side at this point in the season and who has what it takes to go all the way.
The Tigers have enjoyed success against the Gurias in Kokopo last season, with a win at Kalabond, but this was offset by the Gurias repaying the Morobeens with an equally gutsy win at the Lae Rugby League Oval in the return match.
The Tigers also have a win over the Gurias at Kokopo in 2014 so they have proven they can win at the Gurias home base.
The Lae Biscuit Company-backed franchise is a point ahead of the Gurias in the standings after seven rounds and a win will see the Lae men get some more breathing space difference while a loss will see the teams swap places. Coach Tepend told The National that the team had a relaxed week after the drive down from Wabag and has been focusing on a game plan for the Gurias.
Tepend said they were treating the game as a crucial one and one area he said they had to improve in to stand a chance against the Gurias was having a better completion rate. He said he had retained the same round seven line-up for Sunday’s clash.
Fixtures: Round 8 – Sun, June 5: Isapea v Lions, Vipers v Mioks, Gurias v Tigers, Eagles v Lahanis, Wigmen v Tumbe. Bye: Muruks.