Match Report

The round 14 match of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup saw a bumper crowd mostly Mioks diehards who turned up in droves to watch the thrilling encounter.

As anticipated the fiery contest got off at a cracking pace with both teams showing some early nerves in their opening exchanges and committing a number of basic errors, especially in their executions. 

Cutters four-try hero centre, Elijah Rotinga was unstoppable and picked up the Digicel Man of the Match award.

The young Cutters side would not die wondering with lanky centre Rotinga at the helm scoring all their points from four tries and kicking 2 from 4 attempts only to fall short by 6 points in the end.

Seven minutes into the contest and Wigmen showed their class early when five-eight Tony Wemin put his backrower Atua Joshua Nogoya through for their first points to lead 6-0.

PNG Hunters Hooker, Wesser Tenza, helped his provincial team snatch the 10-point victory with a solo try before the fulltime siren.

The Muruks, who have been struggling in Pool A against strong opponents in the Lae Snax Tigers and Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, proved their finals credibility in this match.

Registering this win is a confidence booster as Muruks chip away at the remaining matches before the finals. Muruks currently sit behind EPG Enga Mioks, Tigers and Lahanis in Pool A.

With a refreshed James Tedesco running rampant and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves laying a platform up front, the Roosters chalked up their eighth win of the season to close within two points of the top eight.

The Roosters got the scoring started in the fifth minute through a Joseph-Aukuso penalty goal before Tedesco laid on a try for Egan Butcher and the visitors had an 8-0 lead.

Three minutes later Butcher turned provider when he powered into a hole and sent a pass back inside for Tedesco to streak away and score his eighth try of the season.

An incredible late surge from Ricky Stuart's Raiders, with Elliot Whitehead and Jack Wighton tries saw the visitors go back-to-back in two minutes but a missed Jarrod Croker conversion put the game into extra time.

But when Johnson drilled the clutch moment with his first opportunity from 30m out, the Warriors broke the Raiders' hearts for a second time this season and booked a spot in the top three of the competition ladder.

The victory was just the fifth of the season for the Dragons and gave them some breathing space over Wests Tigers in the fight to avoid the wooden spoon.

The Dragons fired an early shot when Hunt took the line on from close range but he was denied by strong defence from Isaiah Papali'i.

On the back of a high tackle penalty against Jack de Belin, Wests Tigers marched up field and Junior Tupou disposed of Tyrell Sloan to score wide out to make it 4-0 to the visitors.

Knights star Kalyn Ponga brushed aside a rough night on the goal-kicking front to set up three of the side's seven tries and continue his purple patch of form since switching back to fullback. 

Wests Tigers didn't go away throughout the evening until a try to Tyson Gamble with seven minutes remaining put the Knights ahead by 14 to seal victory.

The Knights survived a horror opening set when the Wests Tigers appeared to have scored from a Will Smith kick before the NRL Bunker ruled Jahream Bula had knocked the ball forward for Tommy Talau to go over. 

The match was marred with a lot of handling errors. Both teams struggled for points for the entire contest.

The low scoring contest was attributed to lack of good game management and control by the spine, let alone discipline in their execution.

With both teams coming off consecutive losses, it did not help their cause mentally as they struggled to get into any sort of rhythm in their offensive, coughing up a lot of possession.

The much anticipated round 13 clash of the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup, had everything from the get go that set the tone for an action packed afternoon.

At the back of seven consecutive wins and two draws, reigning champions Hela Wigmen are starting to hit their straps with only three more rounds left before the pool matches conclude and the top six are decided.

The opening exchanges of the epic showdown were played in frantic fashion as both teams went about their business to stamp their authority in the contest.

The Sharks have now won 10 of their past 11 clashes against the Tigers and consolidate their place in the top four with eight games remaining.

After mounting plenty of pressure early the Sharks went up 2-0 when Hynes slotted a penalty goal after David Klemmer was pinged for a high tackle.

The Sharks then grabbed their opening try in the 16th minute when Katoa bounced over the line in the right corner to make it 6-0.