Cutters, Dabari face off

Sports

DIGICEL Cup debuting franchises Kimbe Cutters and Central Dabari face off in the Digicel Cup season opener at the Sasi Muthuvel Stadium.
The match is expected to draw a large crowd to the Kimbe venue which is arguably the best in the New Guinea Islands.
It will be the first Digicel Cup match played in the province.
Previously, the Kimbe Bulls — in the SP Inter-City Cup did host games in the West New Britain capital in the late 1990s.
The Cutters have a raw side comprising mostly of players from the province with a sprinkling of some from neighbouring East New Britain and the mainland.
The visitors have the better roster on paper with the Fortuna Fresh Dabari boasting SP PNG Hunters utility forward Patrick Morea, former Hunters back Karo Kauna Jr, captain Adam Korave and Digicel Cup journeyman Junior Belo as well as Makara Hura and Chicko Mairi
Korave said he was happy to be leading the Dabari in their debut year and was looking for a disciplined performance.
Cutters captain Martin Xavier said they had some players with Digicel Cup experience in former Waghi Tumbe Michael Teke, Lae Tigers Danny Gorea and Rabaul Gurias Timothy Polam to lead the West New Britons.
Xavier said the people of Kimbe and West New Britain had waited a long time to have a team in the country’s top rugby league competition and they would bring their own brand of football to the mix.
“It will be big for us because this is the first time the boys are playing together as a team and we’re looking to give our best shot on the day,” Xavier said.
Fixtures: Digicel Cup Rd 1 – Sun, April 7 – Hagen Eagles v Goroka Lahanis, Mendi Muruks v Waghi Tumbe, Gulf Isou v Enga Mioks, Port Moresby Vipers v Rabaul Gurias, Kimbe Cutters v Central Dabari, Lae Tigers v Hela Wigmen.