Digicel Cup 2022

 As per an amended competition draw, there won’t be any games for July 10^th and 17^th. This is to allow for players and officials to participate in the National General Election polling process.

The Round 12 competition resumes on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday 24^th.

Meanwhile, Round 11 kicks off at 2pm on Saturday in Kokopo and Kimbe respectively, while Port Moresby and Lae will host double headers.

Gurias will play host to Goroka Lahanis at the Kalabond Oval and Kimbe Cutters play Port Moresby Vipers at the Kimbe Rugby League Oval.

Muruks displayed yet another solid performance over CPG Dabaris, 36-12, in Lae, Morobe Province, yesterday.

Other winners Round 10 winners were Agmark Rabaul Gurias 34-10 over Gulf Isou, Kroton Hela Wigmen 28, defeated JPG Waghi Tumbe 14. Lae Snax Tigers 14 defeated Moni Plus NCDC Vipers 6. EPG Enga Mioks 14, prevailed over WNBPG Kimbe Cutters 6, and Bintangor Goroka Lahanis 28, beat Wamp Nga Mt.Hagen Eagles 8.

The first 17 minutes of football saw Isou hold the Gurias scoreless, but this was not long before Gurias broke the hoodoo courtesy of a penalty kick followed by a try through co-captain, Edward Goma to lead 6-0.

Isou were able to hit back with a converted try through Michael Timothy to draw level again 6-all before Gurias fullback, Ilias Stanley celebrated his first game back with a try just before halftime to extend the lead at 12-6.

It was a high scoring affair from the outset with both teams exchanging tries but Tumbe had the last laugh with the winning try in the final 10 minutes of the 2^nd half to take out the match.

Before the match, it was quite an emotional moment for late Papa Gurias widow Derrie Nightingale when she presented the jerseys to the players for the first time again in 2 years after her late husband and franchise owner John Nightingale passed away in 2020.

And the Vipers come under the pump to maintain their early season winning form.

Matches will be played in five different venues.

On Saturday, Minj will host Mt. Hagen Eagles and PRK Gulf Isou, Kimbe Cutters and Bintangor Lanahis meet in Kimbe and competition leaders Agmark Gurias hosts JPG Waghi Tumbe in Kokopo.

While Lae will host a double header - Lae Snax Tigers vs EPG Mioks and PRK Muruks meet Moni Plus NCDC.

Two weeks ago, Cutters thrashed JPG Waghi Tumbe 28-0 in Kimbe followed by Sunday's hard fought win over PRK Gulf Isou 10-4 in Port Moresby.

In only their fourth season since entering the Digicel Cup in 2019, the Cutters are slowly but surely finding their feet in the semi-professional competition.

In its second season 2020, the Kimbe team had an impressive run and got the Best Team of the Year award after just falling short of top six in 7^th place.

The Dabaris bravery in their defense had forced the Vipers into many errors. The Central team is not all about skill, speed and agility but with good attitude and having pride in the jersey.

After competition front-runners, Agmark Gurias overwhelmed them the week before. It was a big ask for the Steven Gunua-coached side to regroup quickly for the Round 8 clash against Port Moresby Vipers.

Vipers appeared to be struggling for some midway through the season had all their big guns on deck to intimidate the lighter Dabaris pack but to no avail.

At fulltime, Vipers 16-12 ran home over Mioks who scored more tries then the Vipers, but fell short on the scoreboard due to poor goal kicking and ill-discipline.

Mioks turned up on Sunday with a plan to spoil the party for the Vipers. This was evident in the opening  exchanges when former Lae Snax Tigers veteran and playmaker, Noel Joel busted the Vipers defense through the middle to set up Limbi Henry in (16) to draw first blood on the right hand corner to put them in front by 4-0.

From the outset, Dabaris showed a lot of resilience in the first half to hold out the Gurias 14-6 lead, until half until halftime.

Dabaris were first to score from a classic backline move that saw halfback Lote Kuman scooting over for the touchdown and converted to take an early lead 6-0.

On Sunday they face a youthful fast flamboyant CPG Dabaris outfit who can potentially cause upsets to visiting teams, especially with speed with ball in hand.

Despite registering only two wins so far this season, Dabaris appear to be the entertainers of the competition playing with a lot more confidence as the season moves on.