REIGNING champions, Mount Hagen Eagles have edged their way into the top eight following their rousing 18-10 win over the Central Dabaris at the Santos National Football Stadum in Port Moresby yesterday. The Eagles after a sluggish start, were basically written off, but in recent weeks have been given a whiff of an opening, and yesterday their star playmaker Man of the Match Sakias Komati, sounded a warning to the top teams. The Eagles landed three tries to prop Samuel Wak, lock Desmond Michael and second-row Wari Rex in a clinical show in the Nation’s Capital. The 42-20 loss by Gulf Isou at the hands of East New Britain Gurias, made way for the Eagles to move from ninth place to eighth. The coming weeks will be a tester for the Eagles, to see if they are the real deal in winning back-to -back premierships. From the other matches, the upset of the round was the Goroka Lahanis pressing the button on the Lae Tigers with a 26-16 victory. The NCD Vipers are also showing fight when they held off the Waghi Tumbe 14-4, the Hela Wigmen in a close 14-12 win over the Enga Mioks and competition leaders Mendi Muruks opening up the Kimbe Cutters with a clinical 44-14 win, to maintain a four-point lead at the top.