Tigers inch closer to title

THE Tigers inched closer to the Digicel Cup minor premiership after the defending champions beat the Mendi Muruks 22-12 in round nine at the Lae Rugby League Ground yesterday.
The Stanley Tepend-coached side can retain the minor premiership with a win over last year’s runners-up Hela Wigmen – who lost 8-36 to hosts Rabaul Gurias at Kalabond Oval in Kokopo – on Sunday.
In the other match of Lae’s double-header, the Mt Hagen Eagles moved off the bottom of the ladder after they beat the Enga Mioks 20-10 in their first win of the season.
In the nation’s capital, the Port Moresby Vipers survived a second-half scare to move up a spot to fourth with a 30-22 win over Gulf Isou, who dropped to the bottom of the ladder after their eighth loss.
Despite the Vipers’ commanding 26-6 lead after 60 minutes of play, Isou scored three straight tries to close the margin to a four-point ball game with four minutes left.
The Vipers were on the ropes with Isou building momentum.
But two minutes from fulltime, a mistake by Isou in their red zone saw the Leonard Tarum-coached Vipers put the game beyond doubt when Manu Kame put winger Ben Wemin into space for a try.
The Vipers got off to a flying start and scored three quick tries in the opening 15 minutes through Wemin, Ase Boas and Thompson Teteh.
The game was shaping up to be a one-sided affair but good defence by Isou saw them stay in the contest.
The Vipers scored seven tries with Boas converting one from four attempts while Brendon Gotuno missed three.
Results: Sat, Sept 5 – Kimbe Cutters 28 Goroka Lahanis 20, Rabaul Gurias 36 Hela Wigmen 8; Sun, Sept 6 – Mt Hagen Eagles 20 Enga Mioks 10, Lae Tigers 22 Mendi Muruks 12, Central Dabaris 14 Waghi Tumbe 14, Port Moresby Vipers 30 Gulf Isou 22.