Tigers through to grand final

The National Sports

Waghi Tumbe’s Enoch Maki taking on the Lae Tigers defence in the Digicel Cup major semifinal at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The Tigers won 20-12 to book the first grand-final berth.
The Hela Wigmen beat defending champions Goroka Lahanis to keep their season alive.
 – Nationalpic by JACK AMI

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Tigers book Digicel Cup grand final

THE Tigers booked the first grand-final berth after the Lae side beat Waghi Tumbe 20-12 in the Digicel Cup major semifinal at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
It was double celebrations for the Stanley Tepend-coached Tigers with the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored side receiving the minor premiership title prior to the match.
The clash was evenly contested but the Tigers maintained pressure to come out victors.
Tumbe now face Kroton Hela Wigmen in the preliminary final on Sunday with the winner advancing to the grand final to meet the Tigers while the losers bow out of the race.
Tigers fullback man-of-the-match Joe Joshua was solid and always on guard to defuse high kicks and gained valuable yardage.
Tumbe got off to an early lead, courtesy of two conversions through Saki Peter. But the Tigers hit back in the 27th minute through an unconverted try by winger Enoch Sine.
With the scores locked at 4-4, the Tigers came out firing after the beak to send Rodrick Tai over for a converted try in the 46th minute.
In the 63rd minute, Tumbe responded with an unconverted try through centre Levai Andrew to trail 8-10. This was followed by another try through inside centre Joe Frank under the uprights to hit the front 12-10 in the 68th minute.
But Tumbe’s lead was short-lived as the Tigers bounced back in the 72nd minute through Sine. Halfback Charlie Simon converted the extras to give the Tigers a 16-12 lead.
But Tigers were not done yet as prop Junior Rop gathered a Simon grubber to seal the match.
The Tigers had Rop, Ishmael Balkawa, Tiger Emeri, hooker Joel and Roy Kela facing off with Tumbe’s Moses Meninga and Baundo Aba.
Tepend said: “We had to polish up our attack and I thought we did. Charlie played an vital role in getting us through to the grand final.”