Mioks triumph over Vipers

The New Porgera Limited (NPL) Enga Mioks defeated the Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Vipers with a 14-10 victory in Round 13 of the Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup on Sunday, 12 July 2026, at Santos National Football Stadium. 

Coming at the back of a dominant 42-18 win over the Asila Waghi Tumbe last weekend at Aipus Oval in Wabag, the Mioks entered the contest with high energy and wasted no time to score the opening try through winger Joel William in the 10th minute, taking a 6-0 lead.

The Vipers answered back in the 22nd minute after centre Joseph Kora kicked a grubber, which ricocheted off the Mioks’ centre, and winger Martin Yanda collected the loose ball to score the 4-pointer. Ben Fege failed to convert the try, trailing the Mioks 6-4.

The visiting Mioks hit back in the 25th minute, with speed star and opening try-scorer Joel William bagging a double. Five-eight Daniel Doa could not add the extras, leaving the halftime score at 10-4.

Continuing with the momentum in the second stanza, the Mioks scored their third try in the 43rd minute through winger Samuel Jack after a well-executed scrum play. The conversion was unsuccessful, with the Mioks increasing their lead to 14-4.

Undeterred by the margin, the Vipers found their groove in the 51st minute, with explosive centre Joseph Kora beating two defenders and offloading the ball to prop Sani Lipu, who used brute strength to barge over the line, narrowing the lead to 10-14.

Following Lipu’s try, the match turned into a taut affair, with the capital men trying to steal the win from the Engan lads. However, the Mioks defended valiantly and upset the Vipers, registering their first two consecutive wins of the season.

Rookie coach Roger Laka, who replaced Billy Gau following a mid-season transfer, was excited about the victory, praising his men for their impregnable defence and winning in enemy territory.

“We have not recorded back-to-back wins, and struggled with form this season, but credit to the boys, who dug deep defensively to win the game against a quality Vipers’ outfit. We defended well and won the game,” Laka said. 

With two straight wins, the in-form NPL Enga Mioks will look to register their third consecutive victory when they host the Kroton Hela Wigmen in Round 14 of the DEM Cup on Sunday, July 19th, at Aipus Oval in Enga.