Digicel Cup 2015-PNG National Competition

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.pngloop.com/2015/04/20/tumbes-fall-short-lions-poor-kicks/


Tumbes fall short of Lions with poor kicks
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Waghi Tumbe’s hopes of winning their first ever game on their home turf were dashed yesterday afternoon when TNA Lions devoured them 22 points to Tumbes 16 at full time in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

TNA Lions came out strongly in the first half, scoring their first try near the uprights in the first five minutes. With a successful conversion, Lions led with 6 points.

The Lions scored another try on the wing just twelve minutes into the game and with an unsuccessful conversion attempt by Sunny Dai the score was 10 points to nil.

Half way through the first half, former Australian Kangaroos and Gold Coast Titans player Anthony Laffranchi registered Tumbe’s first try and with a successful conversion from Joda Wesley, they were trailing at 6 points to 10.

The Lions replied with another try under the uprights and with a good kick, brought the score to 16 and Tumbes were still on 6 points.

With 10 minutes from half time, the Tumbes scored a try but with another failed conversion the Lions were leading on 16 points and Tumbes were on 10 points.

The Tumbes scored another try in the dying minutes before half time and with another missed kick, they were trailing at 14 points to Lions on 16.

The two points difference at half time gave much confidence to the Tumbes who fired with many hit ups and good ball handling techniques but the Lions defended well.

That resulted in both teams not scoring in the second half until in the dying minutes, the ravaging Lions scored under the goal posts, bringing the score from 16 to 20 and with a successful conversion the Lions were leading on 22 points, leaving the Tumbes on 16.

Generally there were supporters for both sides and there was a good level of discipline. The man of the match award went to hooker Leslie Tari of TNA Lions.

A Tumbe official says the Tumbes have returned to the semi professional level after a 15 year recess.
He says the boys played a classic type of football and hopes that they will go really well in the next round.

Next Sunday the Tumbes will play Mt Hagen Eagles at Rebiamul Oval in Mt Hagen while Lions will play Muruks i

 

[mikail-eagle]

Anthony Laffranchi's one game with the Waghi Tumbe club last weekend makes him the first Australian player to play in PNG's National Competition.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Round 2


1 TNA Lions v Hela Wigmen (Kundiawa)
2. Mendi Muruks v Enga Mioks (Mendi)
3. Hagen Eagles v Wahgi Tumbe (Mt. Hagen)
4. Rabaul Gurias v Goroka Lahanis (Kokopo)
5. Lae Tigers v Port Moresby Vipers (Lae)

 

[Dakink]

Great reading, thanks mikail!

 

[deal.with.it]

Whats the go with laffranchi?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Whats the go with laffranchi?

http://www.titans.com.au/news/2015/04/25/boof_back_for_highla.html

Boof back for highland jink

Titans foundation player Anthony Laffranchi made a comeback last weekend in the most extraordinary venue of his career that includes three years with St Helens in England.

?Boofa? strapped the boots to help PNG side Waghi Tumbe, based in the Mt Hagen highlands region, in their first match in the Digicell national league for 13 seasons.

Laffranchi spent a week in Mt Hagen as part of an initiative for Titans4Tomorrow alongside former Titans teammates Luke Bailey and Preston Campbell who helped coach the side.

He had planned to play 40 minutes but ended up being out there for 75! ?I got through OK,? said the former second-rower/prop whose previous game was with St Helens in the UK Super League semi-finals last September.

?They play pretty physically up there but it was a great week and a real eye opener. The team is set up where they live in a compound and train hard and get fed three good meals a day and that?s the incentive to be committed.?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Results from Round 2

1. Eagles 24 Tumbe 10
2. Muruks12 Mioks 10
3. Lions 18 Wigmen 10
4. Tigers 48 Vipers 0
5. Gurias 18 Lahanis 10

 

[mikail-eagle]

Round 3 Results

1. Mt Hagen Eagles 14 def Enga Mioks 12
2. Rabaul Gurias 20 def Lae Tigers 12
3. Gulf Isapea 16 def Port Moresby Vipers 8
4. Simbu TNA Lions 22 def Mendi Muruks 8
5. Hela Wigmen 24 def Waghi Tumbe 12


Points Ladder after Round 3

1. Rabaul Gurias 6
2. Simbu TNA Lions 6
3. Lae Tigers 4
5. Mendi Muruks 4
6. Mt Hagen Eagles 4
7. Enga Mioks 2
8. Hela Wigmen 2
9. Gulf Isapea 2
10. Port Moresby Vipers 2

 

[mikail-eagle]

Draw for round 4:

1. Hagen Eagles v. Simbu Lions – Rabiamul Oval, Mt Hagen
2. Hela Wigmen v. Mendi Muruks – Late Joe Keviame Oval, Mendi
3. Enga Mioks v. Wahgi Tumbes – Johnson Siki Oval, Wabag
4. Rabaul Gurias v. Port Moresby Vipers – Kalabond Oval, Kokopo
5. Goroka Lahanis v. Gulf Isapeas – National Sport Institute, Goroka

 

[mikail-eagle]

Fans in Kokopo will get to see a double header today.

The Rabaul Gurias vs Port Moresby Vipers game will be followed by the Intrust Super Cup match between the Hunters and the Northern Pride.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Round 4 Results

1. Mt Hagen Eagles 26 Drew Simbu TNA Lions 26
2. Mendi Muruks 22 def Hela Wigmen 10
3. Enga Mioks 10 def Waghi Tumbe 4
4. Rabaul Gurias 28 def Port Moresby Vipers 22
5. Goroka Lahanis 30 def Gulf Isapea 8

 

[mikail-eagle]

Apologies for not having updated results for this competition since round 4.
Normal rounds and elimination took place the last 2 weeks.

The competition is now down to the FINAL 4 TEAMS.

SEMI FINAL 1

Rabaul Gurias vs Hela Wigmen - to be played at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo

This is the Grand Final rematch from last year. The Gurias will be looking to take revenge and knockout the reigning champs.

SEMI FINAL 2

TNA Simbu Lions vs Lae Tigers- to be played at Dickson Oval, Kundiyawa

Both teams trying to make their first ever PNG Grand Final.

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/93748

Wigmen banking on defence against Gurias

Source:
The National, Friday August 28th, 2015

Digicel Cup reigning champions the Hela Wigmen are banking on their defence to beat arch rivals the Agmark Gurias at Kalbond Oval, Kokopo, on Sunday.

The winner faces the winner of the other semifinal between the Simbu Lions and Lae Tigers in Kundiawa.

The Kalabond game sees the 2014 grand finalists clash for the third time in 2015 with the ledger at 1-1.
The Hides Gas Development Corporation and Kemele Construction sponsored franchise has one aim in mind and that is to beat Gurias on their home turf.

But the home side will see this as a great opportunity and take advantage of the home ground to avenge their 2014 loss.

Wigmen veterans Larsen Marabe, pictured, Joshia Abavu and Nixon Kolo will be supported by young guns captain Oliver Keri, Kewa Kili, Benzi Hetra, Johnson Hawija, Toby Kopi and Andrew Ipi as they look to book a grand final berth.
The Gurias’ attacking weapons Watson Boas, Jason Missian, centres John Ragi Junior and fullback and captain Albert Patak are the game breakers and seem to step up in home games – and there will be none more imporatnt than Sunday’s match.

They have the backing of forwards Edward Goma, Pidi Tongap, Jimmy Peter Junior, Samuel Hamari and Travis Waninara.

Wigmen chairman Andy Hetera said the aim was to limit the Gurias’ options.
“I think the pressure will be on them as they want to maintain their status as one of the most consistent finals footy teams. That in itself is a very high standard which they will have to live up to.”
Hetera said the Wigmen had the strength, power and mobility within the forward pack to match the Gurias.

“We will look to dominate in that area. There’s no secret about that as that is what we are good at.”
The Wigmen were beaten 20-18 in Kokopo and beat the East New Britons 18-6 in Mendi a few weeks later.

“If we can minimise errors and penalties, with a good defensive effort, we are in the hunt to create an upset at the grave yard.”

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/93750

Clash of the big cats

Source:
The National, Friday August 28th, 2015
By ZACHERY PER

IT will be the clash of the big cats in Kundiawa as the visiting Lae Tigers look to inflict the Simbu Lions’ first home loss of 2015.

The Tigers trek up the Highlands Highway to the “Lions’ Den” Dickson Oval to do what no team has done this season on Sunday in the Digicel Cup semi-final.
Simbu’s rugby league fans are expected to turn out in numbers as the province hosts its first Digicel Cup final since 1997.

Lion’s trainer Saku More and franchise owner Gerard Phillip will want no less than a win for Lions to get to the grand final next week at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.
According to More, the team has had a good two-week build up.

Fullback Steven Gari, Sam Paul, James Minjin and Rex David make welcome returns, boosting the home side.

Enoch Sine’s boot has been a factor in close games and he could be the game breaker this weekend to send the Simbu faithful rushing to SJGS on Sept 5.
The visitors have a their own date with destiny with Tigers coach Stanley Tepend overseeing the rise of the Lae side from pretenders to genuine contenders in 2015.

He will need playmaker Charlie Simon to be on point while the pack led by David Loko and featuring Bernard Lama, Sydney Fred, Kerry Tapako and crafty hooker Noel Joel will need to find a way to win in the Simbu provincial capital.

The Lions try scoring machine Sonny Daing, Brian Gispe and Radley Brawa are men that have gone under the selectors’ radar for too long but Sunday will give them another opportunity to make a statement for the Prime Minister’s XIII.

 

[Sydney Knight]

Go the Wigmen

 

[mikail-eagle]

 

[Foreign Legion]

Gotta love the photo shop logos

 

[mikail-eagle]

Results from the Grand Final Qualifiers played this afternoon as follows.

1. Rabaul Gurias 14 def Hela Wigmen 4

2. Simbu Lions 19 def Lae Tigers 12

So there will be new Champions this year after Reigning Premiers the Hela Wigmen were knocked out by last years runners-up the Rabaul Gurias.

And the Simbu Lions will make their first ever appearance in a Grand Final in this competition.

 

[mikail-eagle]

 

[Dakink]

Go the Lions!