Vipers sizing up

PORT Moresby Vipers and Waghi Tumbe started their 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup premiership campaign with wins in round 1 and both sides will be looking to maintain their winning streak when they meet in the round 2 clash on Sunday.
Despite a convincing win over Goroka Lahanis last week, the Vipers’ completion rate was around 30 per cent which was a concern for coach Charlie Wabo.
Wabo said his men would need to fix their ball handling early on in the season in order to be able to put themselves in better positions to win games.
“It’s good to get the win in round 1 but there is a lot of areas that we need to improve on and the obvious one is the completions,” Wabo said.
“Hopefully we play better in our round 2 game.”
Wabo stressed on his side’s defence which would be crucial against a side such as Tumbe.
Vipers’ halves combination of Joel Gena and Charlie Simon were effective last week with Gena scoring a double. The pair will look to improve their structured moves in attack.
The brutal tackles and runs led by forwards Palangat Kanini, Philemon Kimisive and Julius Yakopa laid the platform for the Moni Plus-sponsored side and they would be out to maintain that momentum.
For Tumbe, coach Baundo Aba has blooded a total of six debutants in the round 1 game against Central Dabaris at Jonah Ambane Oval last weekend. Aba said the 18-14 win over Dabaris indicated the inexperience and transition happening at the club.
However, Aba, who is also a former Hunters forward, said he expected his team to play better in the game against the Vipers.
Tumbe will rely on the experience of former Hunters fullback Matthew Jesse and Enga Mioks 2023 premiership winning spine of Job Kar (No.9) and halfback Francis Sam who are part of Tumbe side this season.
In the other matches, Central Dabaris will face Rabaul Gurias in the curtain raiser of the Hostplus Cup round 7 match between PNG SP Hunters and Redcliff Dolphins on Saturday.
Lae Tigers will look to bounce back from last week’s loss against Kimbe Cutters; the Tigers will face Gulf Isou who lost in round 1.