The East New Britain (ENB) Rabaul Gurias defeated the Asila Waghi Tumbe 20-14 at the National Football Stadium on Sunday 23rd June 2024, in the Round 11 of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the first 10 minutes attempting line breaks and tries but led to their defeat in defense.
The intensity led to pressure resulting in drop balls and penalties, neither team gave their opposition the opportunity to score until the silly mistakes were taken advantage of.
The Tumbe’s fullback, Jessey Mathew found a window of opportunity in the 23rd minute scoring the opening try with Gurias on their tail scoring a try 6 minutes after by their fullback Junias Guan.
The tries were followed by successful conversions by Gurias Ase Boas and Tumbe David Joseph leveling the score board 6-6.
The Tumbes were awarded a penalty for a high tackle which they took 2 points, gaining the lead 8-6.
8-6 in the 30th minute of the first half saw dynamic efforts to ensure a strong lead, the Gurias tightened their defense with strong tackles and applying pressure that forced a lost ball during tackles to their favor in the Tumbe’s 25 meters.
The penalty was granted within the remaining 2 minutes which got the Tumbes overwhelmed with pressure, further out gunned by the Gurias Second Rower Simon Johnson left footstep clearing his sight to the try line, too big and too strong for the fullback Jessey Matthew to stop him from his destination.
Johnson scored the final try of the first half followed by a successful conversion from Boas leading the game 12-8.
The second half saw a brutal 20minutes of power runs and dominant defense.
However, there were frequent episodes of silly mistakes in high tackles, offside and especially drop balls for both teams.
The Tumbe pursued their way to gain the lead in the 61st minute by their interchange Casey Dickson followed by a successful conversion leading the game 14-12.
Despite trailing with two points the Gurias managed to look to defense and attack to gain any form of advantage in the remaining 18 minutes.
The Waghi Tumbe applied pressure to the Gurias red zone forcing a spiral kick and chase to the Tumbe’s try line from the Gurias which transformed into a try, thanks to Gurias left center Dominic Anis’ relentless efforts to chase in the 74th minute.
This with a successful conversion the Gurias lead by 18-14.
The Gurias were able to remain in possession after the kickoff in the remaining 3 minutes.
However, the gradual gaining of yards to kick off the five last count, a late tackle was committed against Ase Boas resulting a penalty.
Ase sealed the Gurias win with the winning penalty conversion of 2 points, winning the game 20-14.
The ENB Rabual Gurias remained dominant once again following last week’s win against the West New Britain Kimbe Cutters 36-14 points.