Kumuls win big

THE Telikom PNG Kumuls restored lost pride by thrashing the Vodafone Fiji Bati 26-0 in the second international match at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby yesterday.
The local players did not let the home crowd down by scoring five unanswered tries and squaring the Sun Engineering series 1-1.
Bati coach Josefa Rabele was disappointed with the result saying his players did not play as a team like in the opening match in Mt Hagen last week where they won 24-12.
He commended the Kumuls for their commitment and focus in denying his boys from scoring any points.
Rabele conceded it was a big lesson for the Bati.
“We only completed six sets throughout the match which showed just how tough the Kumuls defence was,” he said.
Kumul coach Adrian Lam was a pleased man saying that after the Mt Hagen debacle, a win was needed to restore pride, put the critics in their place and appease the fans.
He said the performance by the country’s local talent showed that Kumuls would be a team to watch out for at the World Cup in 2013.
Fullback Josiah Abavu of the Vipers scored his second international try in three appearances before the rugged centre Larsen Marabe scored a converted try to lead 10-0 at half time.
In the second half, Kumuls kept up the pressure practically from the opening whistle with lock Glen Nami scoring in the first minute to hand the hosts a commanding 16-0 lead.
Having to contend with a motivated Kumuls team, who were not prepared to give any quarter, and coupled with a partisan crowd the Bati seemed to lose their structure and drive with several errors allowing PNG more territory and possession.
Marabe visited the try line for the second time in the afternoon to cushion their lead to 20-0 before Goroka Lahanis centre Desmond Teteh sealed the match with a try in the final quarter for a convincing 26-0 win to retain the Sun Engineering Cup.