Dabaris pull off strong second half to beat Isou

By SULI SULI
A DOMINANT second-half performance by Central Dabaris saw them snatch a 24-6 win over Gulf Isou in round 13 of the Digicel Cup at the Santos National Football stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
The Dabaris kept Isou scoreless in second half with four unanswered tries to return to the sixth spot on the 12-team ladder.
In the first match of the nation’s capital triple-header, Rabaul Gurias defeated Port Moresby Vipers in a 26-24 thriller.
Winless Isou took an early lead four minutes into the game, courtesy of a left-edge try scored by centre Chris Jerry.
The Central government-sponsored Dabaris responded in the 17th minute when hooker Matthew Wawe scored a try off a dummy-half play. Morea Morea Jr failed the conversion and the Dabaris trailed 4-6 at halftime.
The Steven Gunua-coached Dabaris came back stronger in the second stanza.
Enforcer and skipper Whallen Tau penetrated Isou’s defence and created an opportunity for Morea to set up try-scoring sensation Douglas Pirika for his 18th try of the season.
Isou looked dangerous in the Dabaris’ red zone, but attempts to score were denied by the Dabaris’ defence.
Dabaris winger Andrew Solo was gifted a try when he intercepted the ball and ran 90m to score under the uprights, bringing the scores to 14-6.
Solo was electric on the paddock as he made another line break and set up Tau to score the Dabaris’ fourth try and extend their lead to 20-6.
Centre Lega Batia sealed the victory in the 74th minute, notching a try from a loose ball by Isou fullback Kenny Laho.