The PNG LNG Kumuls delivered a dominant performance securing a decisive victory over the Cook Islands Aitu in their Pacific Championship clash with a last minute try from rising Kumuls star, Gairo Voro.

The match on Saturday afternoon at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby city started dramatically with Rua Ngatikaura giving the Cook Islands an early lead in the 4th minute.

But as the crowd started chatting, the vibe changed and PNG responded swiftly as Robert Derby scored in the 12th minute.

Rhyse Martin then added his first try of the afternoon in the 26th minute, followed by Derby’s second try in the 31st minute and Alex Johnston crossing in the 35th. By half-time, the Kumuls led 22-12 after Martin converted three of the four first-half tries.

The second half saw the Kumuls maintain their momentum. Laybutt added another try in the 48th minute, and Macdonald scored his fourth try in the 55th minute. The Aitu managed a consolation try in the 68th minute, but the Kumuls' defense held firm. Laybutt's conversions ensured the Kumuls secured a comprehensive 40-28 victory.

The Kumuls' success can be attributed to their structured gameplay, aggressive defense, and effective utilization of set pieces.

Their ability to maintain possession and apply consistent pressure left the Cook Islands with limited opportunities to mount a comeback.

Looking ahead with this victory, the Kumuls have set a strong foundation for the remainder of the Pacific Championships.

Their next challenge will be to maintain this level of performance and continue their pursuit of the championship title as they face off another pacific powerhouse, the Fiji Bati.

The Cook Islands Aitu, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address the areas that contributed to their defeat to remain competitive in the tournament.

The man of match was awarded to none other than Lacklan Lam.