Tigers overcome Vipers to maintain top spot in Digicel Cup

By LARRY ANDREW
THE Tigers maintained top spot on the Digicel Cup ladder with a 48-6 victory over the Port Moresby Vipers in round 15 in Lae yesterday.
After round nine, the Tigers had been playing away for almost a month and yesterday’s home game was a relief for Lae resident as the franchise look to secure the minor premiership at the end of the regular season.
The Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored Tigers are now clear leaders after the Rabaul Gurias’ loss to the visiting Mendi Muruks at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo.
The Vipers were shut out in the first 40 minutes as the Tigers piled on five unanswered tries to bring their score to 26-0 at halftime.
The home side were first on the scoreboard with a try to winger Kafare Amos in the 13th minute. It was converted by halfback Charlie Simon for a 6-0 lead.
From there, the floodgates opened for the Tigers with tries from fullback Joe Joshua, East West Transport man-of-the-match captain Andy John, five-eighth Mark Tony and winger Enoch Sine. Simon bagged three conversions from five attempts.
The second stanza was no different as the Tigers added another four unanswered tries to Jokedi Bire, hooker Noel Joel, Amos (second four-pointer) and lock Ishmael Balkawa.
Simon added two more conversion to bring his tally to five from seven attempts.Roy Kela, converted Balkawa’s try to surge ahead 48-0 with seven minutes left.
The Vipers managed to score a consolation try in the 78th minute when halfback Karis Yoba Peter made a break before passing to hooker Tony Wemin who then offloaded to centre Rex Tandya to score a try out wide.
Five-eighth Robin Soga made no mistake with the conversion for his team’s victory.
Results: Tumbe 16 Isou 8, Wigmen 22 Cutters 4, Eagles 6 Mioks 4, Lahanis 40 Dabaris 14, Tigers 48 Vipers 6, Muruks 10 Gurias 6.