Pirika double helps Dabaris stun Vipers 14-10 in round 8 clash

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE Central Dabaris stunned an experienced Port Moresby Vipers side with 14-10 win in the Digicel Cup round eight clash at Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday.
Winger Douglas Pirika bagged another double for the Dabaris taking his try scoring tally to 11 in the season so far.
Enga Mioks forward Agiru John, who only joined the Dabaris last week in a mid-season transfer, made an impact with a try in the opening 10 minutes.
Morea Morea Jr failed to convert for the Central men to take a 4-0 lead. The Vipers had enough opportunities to reply but handling errors and poor execution cruelled any hopes of a rapid response.
Vipers’ lacklustre attitude was punished when Pirika picked up a loose ball deep in his half to run 80m to score under the uprights on the stroke of half-time.
Morea’s conversion saw Dabaris led 10-0 at the break. Vipers came back strongly in the second-half with Kumuls veterans Enock Maki and Stanton Albert leading the charge.
After consecutive sets in Dabaris’ territory, the Vipers finally breached the defence with centre Willie Tirang dotting down in the corner.
Yunny Patrick’s conversion saw Vipers trailed 6-10 in the 55th minute. With Vipers staging a come-back, the Dabaris responded as they lifted their tempo on defence and attack.
Dabaris’ efforts saw Pirika completed his double in the 66th minute off a set move involving hooker Presley Soto, William Mone and Morea Jr.
Morea failed to convert as they led 14-6. The Vipers put on a late fightback in the final 10 minutes but a courageous Dabaris kept them at bay.
However the Joe Sipa coached side scored a consolation try through Brian Gispe two minutes before full-time with the Dabaris recording an impressive performance for their round eighth encounter.
Sipa said after the game that his men made a lot of errors which cost them the match.