Tigers secure finals spot

The National Sports

By LARRY ANDREW
LAE Tigers hooker Noel Joel scored four tries in his side’s 48-22 win over the Chimbu Warriors in their round 17 Digicel Cup fixture at the Lae Rugby League Oval yesterday.
The win for Stanley Tepend’s side cemented their place in the top five with a game remaining in the regular season.
Joel, a former Hunter (2014), who has been with the Tigers since that time, had a field day out of dummy half against the competition’s last-placed side.
Joel crossed for his first try a minute into the game after the Tigers had a scrum in Warriors territory.
Winger Jason Missian, who had a perfect day with his boot, kicking eight from eight, converted the try.
Joel bagged his second try minutes later for the home side to go12-0 up.
The lead was cut down to six as the visitors responded through centre Schwartzer Kandaki with five-eighth Joshia Jimmy raising the flag for the Chimbu side to trail 12-6.
Warriors fullback Jim Frank set up centre Felix Tatsim after some rugged defence saw Tigers forward Tiger Emere come up with a handling error.
Frank picked up the loose ball and stepped past several Tigers players before offloading to Tatsim.
Jimmy converted to lock up the scores at 12-12.
Tigers centre Nicky Pilyo scored an intercept try for push the home side out to an 18-12 lead.
Pilyo combined with centre partner Charlie Martin to set up Joel for his third try to skip out to a 24-12 lead.
But the Warriors kept up with the pace of the contest after a Jimmy grubber was fumbled by Tigers winger Anderson Benford with Tatsim picking up the ball to dive over for the Chimbu side for them to get to within six points at 24-18 heading to halftime.
The Tigers dominated the second 40 minutes as with five-eighth Edwin Ipape, Benford, Kerry Tapako and Joel crossing for tries Jimmy scored a consolation try for the visitors.
Lae Tigers 48 (Noel Joel 4, Edwin Ipape, Anderson Benford, Kerry Tapako tries; Jason Missian con) Chimbu Warriors 22 (Felix Tatsim 2, Schwartzer Kandaki, Josiah Jimmy tries; Jimmy 3 con) HT: 24-18 (Tigers) at Lae Rugby League Oval.