Tigers, Muruks triumph

The National Sports
Gurias drop to fourth after draw with Lahanis
Kimbe Cutters centre Donald Waruka (left) in action against defending champions Tigers during round six of the Digicel Cup at the Lae Rugby League Ground yesterday. The Cutters lost 14-26.

DEFENDING champions Lae Tigers continued their perfect start to the Digicel Cup with 26-14 win over the visiting Kimbe Cutters at the Lae Rugby League Ground yesterday.
In the first game of the Lae double-header, the Enga Mioks – after three draws and two loses – registered their first win of the season, defeating Gulf Isou 24-14.
The Rabaul Gurias dropped from second to fourth after their 14-14 draw with 2018 champions Goroka Lahanis, with Mendi Muruks taking their spot after a 16-14 win over the Central Dabaris.
The Hela Wigmen moved a place up to third after rebounding from their round-five loss with a 20-6 win over cellar dwellers Mt Hagen Eagles at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
Ladder leaders Tigers’ man-of-the-match Edwin Ipape had a hat-trick in the round-six win.
The Tigers took a while to post their first points with hooker Noel Joel crossing over the line for an unconverted try to set the pace for the home side.
The hosts extended their lead to 10-0 when fullback Edene Gebbie, playing his second game of the season, offloaded possession to five-eighth Ipape to score the first of his three tries under the uprights, which captain Charlie Simon converted.
Ipape crossed over for his second try under the uprights for Simon to add the two points, putting the competition leaders further ahead 16-0.
The Cutters applied pressure before seeing second-rower Steven Yei cross over for the visitors’ first try to trail 4-16 at halftime.
A second-half error by the Cutters saw the Tigers regain control and Ipape send over for a converted try – his third of the match – for a 22-4 lead.
The Cutters then scored two more tries and kicked a conversion to claw their way back into the game but Gebbie put the game beyond doubt with a four-pointer.
Cutters coach Jessie Alunga commended his players for putting up a fight against the hosts, who fielded representative players.
“I thought we were good in defence and around the ruck,” he said.
“I’m happy that we are improving every weekend in the Digicel Cup.”
Results: Sat, Aug 15 – Rabaul Gurias 14 Goroka Lahanis 14; Sun, Aug 16 – Enga Mioks 24 Gulf Isou 14, Lae Tigers 26 Kimbe Cutters 14, Port Moresby Vipers 18 Waghi Tumbe 8, Mendi Muruks 16 Central Dabaris 14, Hela Wigmen 20 Mt Hagen Eagles 6.

9 comments

  • Congrads to the lahanis raw product from Goroka to held on for a draw with a top side like Guria is a plus you are building up and will be a a force in the coming game.

  • Welldone Cutters,, you have done us proud as you put up grate challenge for the host. Crowds at Lae league are impressed with your solid runs and your defensive effort. Tigers win has not come easy. Congratulations boys keep up the good team spirit.

  • Lahanis, cutter’s and babaris have new breed of rugby players. Watching them play every game , there’s continous Improvement in the players form, agility, defense, speed and score margin. Coaches and team management are doing a good job by shaping their players to play rugby. My comments for Tumbes, a good bunch of our youth. Need Improvement in player selection, realign position to match speed and skill, defense we need to get it right. You guys make rugby league tick in our country. Keep on improving

  • By looking at the Match between cutter’s and Tigers, most of the senior playes who have NRL experience were on Tepends Team but cutter’s gave the best challenge ever.
    If tigers challenge another team, they would have given them cricket score.
    Cutters although, it made Up of inexperience playes, they are so sold.

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