Central Dabaris

Gurias fielded an unchanged line up from their round one clash against Mioks but it was a case of fire with fire as the slick Dabaris kept the Gurias in check the entire match.

Gurias new coach and club legend Jessie Alunga said there is no panic station after his side were held to a 12 all draw on Saturday by an equally strong Dabaris side.

Gurias always had the woods on Dabaris ever since they entered the semi-professional competition in 2019, however, in the weekend’s showdown they were a completely different outfit.

This included several trial games played at the Sir John Guise stadium in Port Moresby last  Saturday to consolidate their playing rosters.

Dabaris and Isou will use the two trials as a platform to give the new talents they scouted, the benefit of the doubt before finalizing their squads for 2024.

With a lot of raw talents on show and competing for spots, the physicality and intent of the game got the better of the players at times resulting in either big knocks or dangerous plays.

Last Saturday 10th February almost 100 selected players attended the information session to register and ensure compliance with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League.

Training will then start under the guidance of the elite team coaching staff in preparation for the PNG Bid Academy identification program in March.

The Skel Rice Juniors League competition has been running since 2022, primarily established to provide an avenue for age-appropriate kids to participate in organised and structured competitions.

Finishing outside the top 6 last year 2023 has again challenged the Central Dabaris Board management and playing group to get back to the process and re-focus on what worked for them last year and where they need to improve to be better in 2024.

With some decent offseason recruitments apart from drawing emerging talents from their development pathway program Eda Dabaris to add to their core group from last season now in preseason training.

However, the Gas Resources sponsored side find themselves outside the top six with just one match remaining for the regular season before finals are played.

Dabaris entered Lae Rugby League Oval yesterday for round 15 match sitting on 7^th position, just outside top six with an aim to grab a win.  

For the entirety of the match, the men from Central Province put up a strong fight to back up their win from the previous weekend but the Muruks showed their class to walk away with extra two points when the contest ended 22- 18 in favour of Muruks.

EMK Sepik Pride Chairman Bradley Simon, when confirming the trial match, said they have brought their possible strongest side yet as this will be their last trial match before their maiden round one clash against PRK Gulf Isou on April 16, at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Simon said their four elite players in Captain Wartovo Puara jnr, prop Francis Kembis, gun centre Joe Frank and former Gurias Captain Francis Takai, are part of their first 17 for tomorrow's trial.

Pool A; running first is Marshall Bugs with 6 points and running second is Bese Eels on 4 points.

In Pool B; Buria Reds leads on 6 points and GGK trailing on second with 4 points. Pool C, Koiari Gogeas 1 with 6 points and Minaru Storms with 3 points.

In Pool D, Zivago with 6 points and running on second spot is 24 Miles with 4 points. For Pool E; the MB Knights are leading with 6 points and in second place is Tubusereia Sharks on 4 points.

It is expected to be played across the entire central province in 13 zones before the winners come to Port Moresby for the finals in early February.

The tournament is structured to bring the competition right down to remotest Central to allow for more village based teams to participate rather than just Moresby based.

This annual offseason tournament is sponsored by Goodman Fielder International through its Skel Rice brand. It is targeted to identify and expose more new talent from rural Central who could potentially be scouted into the Central Dabaris team.

As the official airline partner of the Dabaris Rugby Club, the airline provides flights and logistical support for the team to their games outside of Port Moresby.

PNG Air recognizes that sport plays a key role in development, and are proud to support the Central Dabaris rugby club in their endeavours to promote the sport throughout the nation.

The agreement was signed today with representation from both organisations.