2018 Digicel Cup

It was a close match between the Tigers and Bintangor Goroka Lahanis in Port Moresby.

Unfortunately, the Lae team was unable to close the gap, with the fulltime scores at 21-24.

In the match between the Waghi Tumbes and the Rabaul Agmark Gurias, the Tumbes narrowly scraped through with a 2-point victory of 18-16.

Competition leader Enga Mioks will now take on the Tumbes in next week’s major playoffs, while the Gurias will challenge the Lahanis.

This follows spectator violence during last Sunday’s Round 12 Digicel Cup match between Waghi Tumbe and Enga Mioks.

Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competitions (PNGNRLC) board chairman, Adrian Chow, said this decision was made following recommendations by the Match Review Committee. 

Disregarding their standing on the ladder, the Muruks came out physically to nearly upset the Vipers.

But a Supa George Fabian grubber ensured the scores were locked five minutes from full time.

It was a physical match from the go with both teams muscling up in defense.

But it was some brilliant running and dummying from Vipers halfback, Ate Bina Wabo, who opened the scoring.

The Muruks would respond 10 minutes later through some inside running from captain Jack Manda from a Leonard Alphonse pass.

The Timothy Lepa coached side have beaten the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, Agmark Rabaul Gurias, Giru Waghi Tumbe, PRK Gulf Isou and made it five from five with a win over the PRK Mendi Muruks yesterday.

Running second are last year’s runner-up, the Gurias, whose first loss this season was to the Mioks in round two.

Waghi Tumbe and the boys from Hela have also shown they are teams to be reckoned with, picking up impressive wins while defending premiers, the Tigers, have yet to find their form, having recorded only one win putting them in eighth spot on the ladder.

It was a horror start from the Vipers with a knock on in the first play of the match.

The Gurias made them pay through quick hands that allowed an unmarked William Aquila to fly in for the first points.

With the wind in their sails, the Gurias added more points when Brian Gispe put a grubber in a gap for a flying Eliakim Lukara to pounce on.

Two unsuccessful conversions from Elipas Pidik put the score at 8-0 after twenty minutes.

The city boys applied some pressure in the back end of the first half and came close to crossing the line on several occasions.

This afternoon they sailed over the Gulf Isou at the Sir John Guise stadium, 36-16 at fulltime.

In the opening minutes it was fair play from both sides as they tested each other on the field, but the Isous were quick with first try just after 10 minutes into the game.

Mioks returned the favour some six minutes later with a try from John Orope. Roger Laka levelled the score with a conversion.

It was 6-all until a close call by Mioks winger, with a second attempt that was unsuccessful.

Roderick Puname’s men had too much class, beating the newcomers 26-6 at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.

“It was good bouncing back from the loss against the Tigers last week. It was quite embarrassing. We had a long talk after the game and wanted to get back to the basics and getting the small things right.

“That was the idea, working on the small things and making sure we competed for the 80 minutes.”

He said there is still a lot of work to be done.

A break from Brendon Gotuno presented the Vipers with the first opportunity to score.

Fast hands put Rex Tandowa over to score out on the wing in the 14th minute.

Repeated sets to the Vipers had the defending champions under the pump but one mistake from the Vipers turned the tide.

A short ball from Noel Joel sent a charging Casey Dickson in for the Tigers’ first points.

Former Gurias star now Tigers halfback, Jason Missian, added the extras to put his side in front after 26 minutes.

The NCDC Port Moresby Vipers and Snax Lae Tigers clash at 12:30pm will get things underway, being the curtain raiser to the SP Hunters and Souths Logan Magpies match.

Following the Intrust Super Cup fixture, the Kroton Hela Wigmen have a meet with the Chimbu Warriors at 5pm.

It will be the usual 2pm kick-off up in the Highlands with the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis and PRK Mendi Muruks to meet at the National Sports Institute, and the EPG Enga Mioks and Giru Waghi Tumbe encounter at Aipus Oval.

At the Lae Rugby League Grounds, defending premiers Snax Lae Tigers will play host to the Kroton Hela Wigmen. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Three matches will be played in the Highlands with a starting time of 2pm.

The PRK Mendi Muruks will welcome the NCDC Port Moresby Vipers to Mendi while across to Minj, Giru Waghi Tumbe will lock horns with the visiting Bintangor Goroka Lahanis.

At Wabag will be the showdown between the EPG Enga Mioks and the Agmark Rabaul Gurias.