Tumbe, Dabaris draw

By PARKER TAMBUA
A MISSED conversion by Charles Kumbi in front of the posts cost the Central Dabaris a win as they settled for 14-14 draw with Waghi Tumbe in Port Moresby yesterday.
Waghi Tumbe looked certain to register their third win of the season with 14-10 lead with 30 seconds to play in the round-nine Digicel Cup match at Sir John Guise Stadium.
But Dabaris fullback Morea Morea dashed from his own tryline in a kick-return and ran rings around Tumbe defenders before outpacing Joe Frank to set up Makara Hura for the equaliser.
The draw has dealt a blow for eighth-placed Tumbe’s finals ambitions with two rounds left in the regular season.
The sixth-placed Kimbe Cutters are on eight competitions points.
Tumbe had a 36 per cent completion rate which allowed the Dabaris back into the contest in the dying stages of the match.
With Saki Peter, Charlie Kaipel, Ezikiel Karl and John Ongol on both edges, the Jiwaka government-sponsored side were able to create scoring opportunities but the side let themselves down with poor ball security.
SP Hunter Joe Frank, who played at lock, breached the Dabaris defense to score one of Tumbe’s tries.
For the Dabaris, Hura bagged a double and veteran David Loko scored a try. Dabaris assistant coach Gairo Pepena was disappointed with the result. He said his side could have won had it not been for a lack of coordination in attack.