Port Moresby Vipers strangle Lae Snacks Tigers

THE Stop N Shop Port Moresby Vipers were clinical in their powerhouse performance to send the visiting Snax Tigers into submission at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.

The Vipers blasted the Tigers 26-16.

The morale boosting win over one of the top contenders for this season has also catapulted them two slots into second spot after Game 14 of the Digicel Cup rugby league competition.

With only four matches remaining, the Vipers are stepping up to remove that brides-maid tag that has plagued the team for a number of seasons.

 And it is their forwards that are setting the pace with the ever consistent Larson Marabe, Sebastian Pandia, Steven Johns and the man from Koiari Adam Korave that is featuring prominently with his high-work-rate alongside his more well-known teammates.

 The timely return of the other half of the machinery in Samuel Koim, Enoch Maki and Charlie Wabo from injury gave that extra muscle up front to set up that brick-wall that the Lae outfit for once had trouble breaking.

The Tigers did however get underway with a promising start with their forwards Mogi Wei Jnr, Roy Kela, Kot Kerowa and Joe Kingal asserting themselves in a big way to see winger Richard Reto open the scoring in the sixth minute.

And despite the Vipers getting one back through Korave at the 11th minute, the Tigers led to half-time with their second try to Elvis Dick.

The second-half was an all Vipers affair with half-back Israel Eliab (42nd), winger Lawrence Kuso Jnr (46th) and then winger Jolam Jerry (53rd) after a timely 40-20 from Eliab.

Then when Richard Kambo punched through at the 72nd, the Tigers were snuffed out, despite a late try to Walter Hasu.

Vipers 26 (A Korave, I Eliab, L Kuso Jnr, J Jerry, R Kambo tries; A Pandia 3, I Eliab con) Tigers 16 (R Reto, E Dick, W Hasu tries; W Hasu 2 con).