Wigmen see off Muruks

By JACK AMI
THE Hela Wigmen saw off a competitive Mendi Muruks 21-10 in their Digicel Cup minor semifinal clash at the PNG Football Stadium yesterday.
The Helas now face the Agmark Gurias, who lost 18-16 to the Lae Tigers, in the preliminary final next Sunday at the same venue.
In the major semifinals defending champions booked the first grand final berth with a gritty two-point win over the Gurias.
The Kroton Petroleum-sponsored franchise broke out to an 11-point lead in the 70th minute of an evenly contested affair.
The halftime score was 6-6.
A converted try each by Wigmen wing Melvin Paul got the Helas off to a good start with five-eighth Towari Kenake adding the extras.
For the Muruks Casey Kuple hit back with a four-pointer for the Southern Highlanders with Mark Toni kicking the conversion.
Wigmen’s Missach Wallen crashed over for his side’s second try and a 10-6 lead in the 56th minute  but the Muruks refused to throw the towel in with Jerry Teme crossing near the uprights but kicker Wesley Vali inexplicably missed the easy conversion to leave the scores locked at 10-10.
A field goal by Wigmen No.6 Kenake edged his side in front 11-10 in the 69th minute.
The Wigmen held their nerve and kept the heat on the Muruks who were starting to get desperate and  in the 73rd minute Wigmen hooker Junior Belo set up centre Junior Rau for a converted try to push the lead to 17-10.
Kenake was later named the man-of-the-match for his efforts.
Wigmen coach Rodney Puname said his side were patient and credited his spine in No.9 Junior Belo. No.6 Towari Kenake and fullback Stanford Talita for guiding the side around the park.
“We respected the opposition and we were not looking ahead of this game. We’re taking it one game at a time,” Puname said.
“The Muruks are a good side with lots of really good young players. They were tough and fast but we did what we had to get the win.
“In the next game we’ll have to be really focused and play smart against the Gurias.”