The Central Dabaris continued their impressive run in the Santos Cup PNG National Women’s Competition, securing a dominant 30-0 victory over the Mt Hagen Eagles at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
This marks the Dabaris’ second consecutive win at home, showcasing their growing strength as one of the top contenders in this year’s Santos Cup.
The Dabaris started strong, leading 10-0 at halftime.
They maintained their momentum throughout the second half, adding 20 more points to secure a comfortable win.
The Eagles struggled to match the pace and physicality of the Dabaris, who demonstrated superior teamwork and execution on both ends of the field.
The Dabaris’ defense was particularly noteworthy, as they managed to keep the Eagles scoreless for the entire match.
The Eagles had eyed a back-to-back win following their dominant 26-4 win over the Rabaul Gurias in the opening round last weekend, but had anticipated that they were up against a very experienced Dabaris side this weekend.
Meanwhile, over in Rabaul, the Rabaul Gurias faced off against the Port Moresby Vipers in what turned out to be a hard-fought match at Queen Elizabeth Park.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams unable to score in the first half.
However, the Gurias managed to break the deadlock in the second half, scoring the only points of the match to secure a narrow 4-0 victory over the Vipers.
This win was particularly significant as it was the first-ever Santos Cup match held at the historic Queen Elizabeth Park, marking a milestone for women’s rugby league in the region.
These matches were part of a doubleheader event, with the women’s games followed by the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup fixtures.
The Santos Cup continues to gain momentum, with strong support from local fans and the ongoing involvement of international partners like PacificAus Sports and the Queensland Rugby League (QRL).
Women’s State of Origin Queensland Maroons Head Coach Tahnee Norris has been working closely with the teams, bringing her extensive experience in Australian Rugby League to help elevate the competition.
Her involvement is a testament to the commitment of the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and its partners to grow women’s rugby league in the country.
With the competition heating up, the Santos Cup is proving to be an exciting platform for showcasing the talent and potential of women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea.
As the tournament progresses, teams like the Dabaris and Gurias are setting the standard, while other teams will need to regroup and strategize for the challenges ahead.