​Mt Hagen Eagles Leap to Top of Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Table with Narrow Victory

The Mt Hagen Eagles have surged to the top of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup standings after a narrow 12-10 victory over the Lae Tigers. This win propels the Eagles back into the lead position as the competition intensifies.

In other weekend matches, the Mioks suffered a setback, falling 10-16 to the Goroka Lahanis at NSI on Sunday. This defeat dropped the Mioks to second place in the standings.

The top six teams remain unchanged after Round 16, but there have been notable shifts. The Eagles lead with 22 points, followed closely by the Mioks and Muruks with 21 points each. The Gurias hold fourth place with 20 points, while the Tigers and Dabaris are tied for fifth with 19 points each.

The competition for the minor premiership remains fiercely contested, with only a few points separating the top teams. The race for the 6th position is particularly close, with the Gurias, Tigers, and Dabaris all vying for the spot. The final three rounds of the season are expected to be crucial.

Currently sitting in 7th place with 16 points, the Waghi Tumbe face an uphill battle to break into the top six. They face challenging fixtures against the Eagles and Lahanis in the remaining rounds.

In the upcoming fixtures, the Gurias will face the Vipers and Isou in Rabaul, while the Tigers will meet the Lahanis and Muruks in Lae. The Dabaris will play the Wigmen and Mioks in Port Moresby.

The competition is set to proceed to the semi-final series for the top six teams following Round 18, with the first week of the semi-finals scheduled to begin on August 25.