Round Review

Muruks lead with 22 points followed by Gurias and Wigmen with 20 points apiece. Reigning champions Tigers are on 17 points.

As intensity continues to build in the country's premier rugby league competition with only 4 more rounds left of the regular season, the Southern Highlands franchise, continued their current winning form with another dominant display over bottom placed Wamp Nga Mt.Hagen Eagles 36-8 in Lae yesterday.

After 13 rounds of competition the Roderick Puname coached side have kept a season's best record yet of 11 wins with only two losses.

While favourites continued their winning ways, Port Moresby, Lae and Kimbe recorded mixed results.

In Port Moresby Central Dabaris again lived up to its name tag as “the entertainers” of the country’s premier national rugby league competition, after giving  JPG Waghi Tumbe a hiding on Saturday notching up 40 points to 18 at the Santos National Football stadium.

Muruks displayed yet another solid performance over CPG Dabaris, 36-12, in Lae, Morobe Province, yesterday.

Other winners Round 10 winners were Agmark Rabaul Gurias 34-10 over Gulf Isou, Kroton Hela Wigmen 28, defeated JPG Waghi Tumbe 14. Lae Snax Tigers 14 defeated Moni Plus NCDC Vipers 6. EPG Enga Mioks 14, prevailed over WNBPG Kimbe Cutters 6, and Bintangor Goroka Lahanis 28, beat Wamp Nga Mt.Hagen Eagles 8.

From the outset, Dabaris showed a lot of resilience in the first half to hold out the Gurias 14-6 lead, until half until halftime.

Dabaris were first to score from a classic backline move that saw halfback Lote Kuman scooting over for the touchdown and converted to take an early lead 6-0.

At the Sir Danny Leahy Oval, 10th place Goroka Lahanis put a 2nd half powerhouse performance to shoot down the more fancied Port Moresby Vipers 46-22 at fulltime.

In Minj, home team Waghi Tumbe was able to avenge last week's loss to PRK Mendi Muruks with a massive upset win over defending premiers Lae Tigers 16-6. At least Tumbe was able to take some revenge from last year's Digicel cup grand final loss.

In Sunday’s matches, 'A' grade, Dobo Warriors bt Tarangau 18-10 and in the main game, Gulf West 16, beat Hohola Flies 4. 

In the Womens’ matches, Tarangau smashed last weekend's big winner Dobo Warriors 30-0, while Gulf West won on forfeit over Hohola Flies. 

In Under 20, Dobo Warriors 12 def. Tarangau 8, Gulf West 18 def. Hohola Flies 16, and Defence 10 def. Butterflies 8. 
 
Saturday match results saw U/20 Hawks def. Magani 10-6, Kone Storms and Kone Tigers drew 4-4. 

Meanwhile 2020 premiers Kroton Hela Wigmen put a dent on Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Vipers clean winning track record in the season, with a solid win on Sunday at the Santos National Football Stadium.

The Wigmen handed Vipers their first loss of the season in a thrilling 16-14 finish.

As anticipated, the match was a classic example of what great rugby league teams can bring to the table.

In the dying stages, they registered a nail-biting 9-8 victory against an equally determined Agmark Rabaul Gurias outfit.

With both teams locked up at 8 all, a successful field goal attempt by Vipers number 7 Karis Peter in the 77^th minute, broke the deadlock, giving Vipers their second straight win of the season.

It was a traditional arch rival clash that the Gurias would dearly love to host at their home turf the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo, however the venue was shifted back to the Santos National Football Stadium, at the last minute for security reasons.