The Kroton Hela Wigmen outmatched the Gas Resource Central Dabaris in a nail biting Round -13 match of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup this afternoon.
Wigmen dug deep to defeat a spirited Dabaris side in a tightly contested match securing an 18-10 victory at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby city.
The match commenced with high intensity as Dabaris struck early through Douglas Pirika in the shocking 3rd minute.
However, Wigmen Siki Konden answered back with resilience and flair, over the line in the 10th minute, followed by fullback Kaupa Sipa with another strong finish in the 24th, giving the home side 8-4 lead heading into halftime.
Dabaris kept the fight alive after half time as Uda Morea crashed over in for a try after 2- minutes into the second half with Nathan Kora successfully converting to level the scores. But the Wigmen’s physical dominance began to take its toll in the second half.
Wigmen’s Mesno Laki reasserted control crossing over for a try in the 46th minute, while Bossy Alua sealed the result with a crucial four-pointer in the 67th minute. Lote Kuman managed a single conversion from four attempts, while Dabaris converted one from two.
Despite Wigmen’s low conversion rate, structured defense and relentless kicking game proved vital in containing a Dabaris outfit hungry for an upset.
The win lifts Hela Wigmen out from losses as they push for a top six finish, while Central Dabaris will need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay in as a top tier team.
With finals looming, every point matters, and this result solidifies Hela Wigmen’s reputation as they look ahead to face the Asila Waghi Tumbe next.