The Kroton Hela Wigmen have advanced on to the second week of the Digicel Cup finals after beating the PRK Mendi Muruks 17-10 in the elimination final in front of a vocal crowd at the PNG Football Stadium this afternoon.
The Muruks were on the board first after a try to Casey Kuple in the third minute of the match.
The Hela boys responded seven minutes later through Melvin Paul, who flew over on the wing to score.
These were the only points in the first half with the score tied at 6-6.
It was all one way traffic in the early part of the second half with the Wigmen dominating possession.
This eventually led to points after Missach Welen crossed to score out wide.
But the Muruks proved they had plenty fight in them and equalized right on the 60-minute mark through their classy half-back Jerry Teme.
Five-eighth Towari Kenake put the Wigmen back in front by a point after striking a field goal from the side to make it 11-10 with 11 minutes remaining.
This lifted the Wigmen with the all the momentum going their way. The win was sealed in the 73rd minute thanks to Junior Rau, who ran around some tired Muruks defenders to score near the posts.
The Wigmen will play the Agmark Rabaul Gurias in the preliminary final next Sunday. The winner will go on to meet the Lae Snax Tigers in the grand final on September 9.