Tumbe rough up Gurias for close win

By JACK AMI
FINALS first timers Giru Waghi Tumbe out-muscled the Agmark Gurias 18-16 in their Digicel Cup qualifying final at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
Tumbe now meet minor premiers Enag Mioks in the major semifinal in Lae on Sunday.
Gurias will play the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, who ran down the defending champions Lae Tigers 24-21 in the elimination final.
Tumbe halfback Francis Sam scored the decisive try in the 74th minute after stepping past a tiring Gurias edge defence.
Sam said he saw an opening and ran through it before wrong-footing the cover defence and posting the try that nudged them ahead.
“This is my first time in the Digicel Cup and although I trialed with the Mendi Muruks last year, I didn’t make their squad so I’m just happy to be with the Tumbe now,” Sam said.
Tumbe coach Francis Ray said he was impressed with the 20-year old Southern Highlander.
Ray said the franchise had been committed to playing a good brand of football and also taking care of the players.
“Our forwards played well. I thought our captain Sipa Korken, Andrew Ipi, Daniel Pai and Henry Wan worked hard to give us go forward and the halves combination of Sam and Israel (Balio) got our backs into the game,” Ray said.
The Gurias gave as good as they got but the energy expanded from trying to match the Tumbe pack took a toll.
Gurias skipper Edward Goma and hooker Brian Gispe were influential and had good support from back-rower Tuvi Lepan.
Halves Dickson Amea and Solomon Pokari did their best to unleash dangermen William Akuila, John Ragi Jr and Eliakim Lukara but the Tumbe kept their line and neutralised their impact.
The eveness of the opening half was reflected on the board at halftime with a 6-6 score line.
Former PNG Hunters prop Henry Wan scored for the Tumbe while Gurias fullback Terry Wapi posted his side’s try.
The second stanza saw Tumbe edge 8-6 ahead thanks to an Israel Balio penalty
Waghi backed that up with a try to centre Emmanuel Waine with Moseley Tika adding the extras to go 14-6 ahead.
Despite looking a little worse for wear, the Gurias stayed in the contest with a well-taken try to centre John Ragi Jr in the 66th minute to reduce the margin to 14-10.
The Tumbe reacted by upping the aggression and that saw them claim field position deep inside the Gurias half and No.7 Sam took his chance in the 74th minute.
The Gurias regrouped for one last effort with John Mondo scoring a consolation try.