Last Year’s Digicel Cup champions SNS Port Moresby Vipers bowed out of the competition yesterday after being defeated by the Kemele Hela Wigmen in Lae.
The preliminary finals saw the Wigmen defeating the Vipers 18 points to 16 while the Lahanis and Mioks drew 22-all at fulltime.
Wigmen will now face the Lae’sNAX Tigers in the first semi-finals while a winner is yet to be determined for the Mioks vs. Lahanis game to meet the Rabaul Gurias.
The Lae Rugby League ground was packed to capacity as the preliminary finals for the Digicel Cup gets underway.
Kemela Hela Wigmen was the first to register on the scoreboard leading the Vipers 6-nil in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The Port Moresby Vipers were in the top of their form in the first half with fullback Josiah Abavu scoring two tries for his side to lead 12-6 into half time.
It was a physical game, filled with excitement as both teams battled for a spot in the semi-finals.
Minutes into the second half, Wigmen scored a try to level the game at 12-all. The Wigmen continued on to score another try to extend their lead to 18 points, with the Vipers trailing at 12.
Elijah Riyong ran in another try for the Vipers; however, Stanley Torato couldn’t put the ball through the uprights for the Vipers to fall short by 2 points.
In the second of the double-header games, Goroka Lahanis came from behind and drew the game with the Enga Mioks at 22 all.
The Mioks led into halftime with 18 points to 6; however, Lahanis came from behind in the second half to score three tries to take over the lead.
A late comeback by the Mioks in the dying minutes of the game couldn’t help any better as both teams were tied at 22 all.
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