Tigers, Wigmen unbeaten

LAST year’s Digicel Cup runners-up Hela Wigmen continued their perfect start to the season with a 14-12 win over the Mendi Muruks at the Lae Rugby League Ground yesterday.
It was the Muruks’ first loss of the season after going into the Lae Rugby League Ground fixture unbeaten after three rounds of the country’s premier rugby league competition.
The Charlie Wabo-coached Wigmen now join the Lae Tigers as the only unbeaten sides in the competition after the defending champions beat Gulf Isou 40-4 at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Rabaul Gurias bounced back from their 16-24 round-three loss to the Tigers with a 36-14 victory against fellow New Guinea Islands side Kimbe Cutters in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Gurias centre John Ragi Jnr opened the scoring with an unconverted try seven minutes in and his teammate Jordan Pat crashed over four minutes later for another four-pointer.
The Cutters hit back with skipper Jah Hogan scoring their first try off a Tony Ponda kick.
But it was not enough as the Gurias responded with a try each to Edward Goma and Stanley Olo for a 24-6 lead at halftime.
Quick thinking saw Gurias fullback Terry Wapi scoring from dummy half after the break.
Hogan completed his double after a brilliant kick-chase to score on the right edge to close the gap to 10-30.
The Cutters took a physical approach and held off their opponents for the next 25 minutes before they found space to send centre Donald Waluka over for a try in the 74th minute.
But the Gurias responded with Olo bagging his second try moments from fulltime.
“It was a scrappy win,” Gurias coach Marus Kaugla said.
“We came with a game plan but we didn’t stick to it.
“We still have a poor completion rate.”
Meanwhile, Cutters coach Jessy Alunga was happy with side’s efforts in defence and pointed out that the Gurias’ experience proved the difference.
Results: Sat, July 25 – Isou 4 Tigers 40, Cutters 14 Gurias 36; Sun, July 26 – Muruks 12 Wigmen 14, Tumbe 40 Lahanis 18, Mioks 6 Dabaris 6, Vipers 16 Eagles 10.