Vipers, Wigmen advance

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE Vipers and last year’s runners-up Hela Wigmen will meet in Sunday’s Digicel Cup minor semifinals after wins over the Mendi Muruks and Enga Mioks respectively in Port Moresby yesterday.
The Vipers and Wigmen beat their opponents 12-10 and 14-12 respectively in front of a sizeable crowd in the elimination finals at Sir John Guise Stadium.
The main game of the round saw the Vipers and Muruks complete just over 20 per cent of their sets after the break with injury stoppages contributing to a scoreless, uneventful second half.
The hosts opened the scoring 10 minutes in when halfback Karis Peter sliced through the Muruks defence to score a try beside the uprights.
His halves partner Ase Boas made sure of the conversion to give the Vipers a 6-0 lead.
But the Muruks re-grouped and scored an unconverted try in the 18th minute through winger Leon Undipia after repeat sets in Vipers’ red zone.
It got better for the visitors as they hit the lead five minutes later after hooker Wesa Tenza put McKenzie Yei into space before the Central Queensland Capras forward set up former Rabaul Gurias five-eighth Wesley Batari for his first Muruks try.
But two minutes before halftime, the Vipers capitalised on an error by the Muruks to send Rex Tandowa over for a converted try on the left edge as the hosts held on to keep their title hopes alive.
The Muruks were almost out of substitutes in the second half after Sylvester Bulu, Milex Winis, Jack Manda and Joe Honk came off injured.
Results: Sun, Sept 27 — Hela Wigmen 14 Enga Mioks 12, Port Moresby Vipers 12 Mendi Muruks 10.