It was all mixed feelings in Port Moresby as PNG Kumuls came from behind in a neck-to-neck contest to seal the 40-28 win over the visiting Cook Islands today.
Kumuls put on a performance that kept the fans on their toes all throughout the match but it was the halfback Gairo Voro who gave the fans the last laugh as he seals off a 79th minute try on debut.
The Jason Demetriou side failed to impress the fans as they allow Cookies to dominate the play with a match opener from Rua Ngatikaura just four minutes into kick off.
PNG responded eight minutes later with a Robert Derby try. Derby had a great day in the office as he scooped his double in the 27th minute following a try from the PNG skipper Rhyse Martin.
The two team went neck-to-neck as the visitors find their way into the game with a try Reubenn Rennie in the 19th minute before PNG Kumuls take control into the break with 22-16 on the scoreboard.
Cook Islands returned stronger as Caelys-Paul Putoko light up National Football Stadium with his first in the second stanza before PNG’s Zac Laybutt responded at the edge with a try.
The Port Moresby sun also had its share on the players, even giving the home boys a though day on the pitch and a lot more trouble in their ball carry.
This saw the Esom Ioka and Delahia Wigmore crossing over the try line as Esom Ioka collected four of the five conversions to keep thei4r hopes alive. However, Voro added the icing on Kumuls fullback Morea Morea’s try allowing Martin to collect the extras that gave the defending champions their first win of the tournament.
