Snax Tigers

The Snax Tigers will have the advantage as they play on home soil against the Wigmen and a tough affair awaits for both teams who are current competition leaders so far after round five. 

An epic battle is looming for Lae rugby league fans this Sunday when current Digicel Cup joint leaders reigning champions Kroton Hela Wigmen meet up with archrivals Lae Snax.

From the onset, both teams have remained consistent and are beaming with confidence going into Sunday's contest.

The Tigers arrived in the province on Thursday heading straight to the Wapenamanda Primary School for a stretching session.

On Friday the Snax Tigers visited țwo primary schools in Wabag; Wabag primary followed by Par primary just outside Wabag town in the Ambum-Kompiam district.

The Tigers team ran basic rugby skills sessions for the 2,500 students of Wabag primary, including ball security, defense and ball passing.

Lae Snax Tigers opened the score board 11 minutes into the game and came back with another try.

Mioks would not let their fans down, who travelled all the way from Enga, pushing a try just before half time.

Mioks than opened the second half with a try however the Tigers never backed down on home soil, scoring two back to back tries in the 53rd minute and in the 58th minute.

Mioks than scored 61 minutes into the game, but strong defence from tigers saw the final score at 26 points to 16.

Majority of them are reportedly made up of Engans, who are here to watch the Mioks battle against the Lae Snax Tigers at 12.15pm.

Two members of the crowd, gathered at the main entrance point, told this newsroom that they arrived in the city from Simbu and Enga over 5 days ago.

Police and PNG Defence Force personnel are stationed around the grounds to make sure things do not get out of hand.

Seating at the grounds is estimated to be less than 6,000. However, between 6,000-7,000 people are expected while most of them will sit or stand on the lawn.

While the Eastern Highlander makes his debut donning the red, black and gold colours – the road to a World Cup call up duty is in the air for this speedster.

Following his side’s victory in the recent Digicel Cup grand final, Awane is excited if given the chance to take the field.

He joins seven players from his camp named in the side to play Australia.

“I am so excited as this is any players dream and is something I am looking forward to as I knock on the Kumuls doors for the World Cup,” Awane said.

The Tigers held on to beat the Agmark Rabaul Gurias 14-8 in yesterday’s Digicel Cup grand final at the Sir John Guise stadium.

Close to 15,000 spectators turned up and got their money’s worth with the game going right down to the wire.

In his speech after the game, Tigers five-eighth and captain, Charlie Simon said the win wouldn’t have been possible without all the support from the club’s fans from all over the country.

He thanked the Tigers fans and the sponsors for their support year in and year out saying the win was for them.

This comes off a bye and a win over the SNS Port Moresby Vipers on Sunday at the National Football Stadium. The Tigers are on 4 points.

Also tied on 4 competition points are the second placed Bintangor Goroka Lahanis and the Agmark Rabaul Gurias who sit third on the ladder.

Points for and against has put them behind the Tigers.

The only two teams who are yet to register any competition points are the SNS Port Moresby Vipers and the TNA Lions

The ladder after round 2 is:

Titans showed class in the first 40 minutes, leading 12-6 in a trial match played at Yonki yesterday in front of a packed local crowd.

Tigers scored a successfully converted try in the first quarter after some strong performances by both sides.

After studying the Tigers’ game, Titans coach Merrah Kipefa regrouped his troops resulting in them running over the line twice to collect eight points.

The conversions found the mark, ensuring the home side went for the break with a 12-6 lead.