Pacific Cup... announced

[sportsmad]

packed house?

[Druzik]

Oct 25, 2009 17:30:04 GMT 10 sportsmad said:

packed house?

Yup pretty much, not sure what the capacity was but the stands and one end looked completely packed. The right hand side seemed to have a couple gaps on the hill around the shade cloth... but otherwise full.

[sportsmad]

the tele's take on things:

PNG thrash Tonga to reach Pacific Cup final
By Joanna Lester From: AAP October 25, 2009 6:52PM Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Print Email Share Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Add to Facebook Add to Kwoff Add to Myspace Add to Newsvine What are these?

Source: The Daily Telegraph
PNG 44 TONGA 14

PAPUA New Guinea swept aside tournament favourites Tonga to move through to the final of rugby league's Pacific Cup with a comprehensive 44-14 victory in front of over 9,000 passionate supporters in Port Moresby.

Tonga, captained by Parramatta Eels star Feleti Mateo, were expected to mount a serious challenge to the home team's cup campaign, but they were outplayed and out-enthused by the Kumuls.

Led superbly by Gold Coast Titans youngster David Mead and UK-based local favourite Menzie Yere, Papua New Guinea raced to a 20-4 halftime lead.

Yere started it when his smart footwork found a gap in the Tongan defence and his try was converted by John Wilshere, whose impressive kicking landed six from eight goals in windy conditions at Lloyd Robson Oval.

Further tries from Jason Chan, Anton Kui and Mead meant the Tongans were all but out of the contest by the break.

Tonga's playmakers failed to penetrate the PNG line, apart from an early effort by Sione Tongia, and they struggled to control the Kumuls' enterprising attack when forced to defend back-to-back sets in the hot conditions.

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Papua New Guinea continued the rout after the break, as Jessie Joe Parker, Mead and Yere crossed for tries, and crowd favourite Charlie Wabo powered over to take the Kumuls past the 40-point mark.

Their six local players combined well with a host of Australia-based youngsters, and the Kumuls were boosted by an excited home crowd.

Tonga managed a late rally as Tongia grabbed another try and Cronulla's Atelea Vea crossed in the dying stages, but they were left ruing their first-half handling and defensive errors.

"All the boys are really happy,'' said Papua New Guinea captain Wilshere. ''(Coach) Adrian Lam has put a great team together and the World Cup last year was a good experience for us. But we know that the job's not over yet, there's still one game to go.''

Papua New Guinea face the Cook Islands in next Sunday's Pacific Cup final for a place in the 2010 Four Nations against Australia, New Zealand and England.

[Druzik]

I almost fell of my chair that the tele has even botrhered to cover this!

Note that they have NO mention of the ENC?!

[Marv]

Oct 26, 2009 10:15:56 GMT 10 Druzik said:

I almost fell of my chair that the tele has even botrhered to cover this!

Note that they have NO mention of the ENC?!

Why should they? the tele is not europe?

[Druzik]

Oct 26, 2009 20:34:26 GMT 10 Marv said:

Oct 26, 2009 10:15:56 GMT 10 Druzik said:

I almost fell of my chair that the tele has even botrhered to cover this!

Note that they have NO mention of the ENC?!

Why should they? the tele is not europe?

Because they claim to be the place for all your rugby leage... rugby league central they call themselves.... they are happy to report on other sports matches from around the world. Why not rugby leagues?

[Druzik]

So the first half of the 3/4 play off is over.

Fiji 10 vs. Tonga 04

Pretty entertaining 1st half so far. The Fijians have been showing their flair though Tonga have been unlucky not to score a couple more.

[Druzik]

Fiji 26-16 Tonga

So I guess not any real surprise there. The match was pretty good, certainly was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the Bloodyslow today.

Rankings for the Pacific after this tourney:
1. New Zealand / Australia
2. New Zealand / Australia
3. Papua New Guinea
4. Cook Islands
5. Fiji
6. Tonga
7. Samoa

[England 3 Lions]

PNG are through. They're leading 42,12 with a couple of minutes to go.

[sportsmad]

PNG win place in Four Nations
PAPUA New Guinea will take on Australia, New Zealand and England in next year's Four Nations rugby league tournament after winning the Pacific Cup final in Port Moresby.

The hosts scored eight tries to defeat a young Cook Islands outfit 42-14 in front of a full house of over 10,000 at Lloyd Robson Oval. Kumuls captain John Wilshere said reaching the Four Nations will inspire the people of Papua New Guinea.

"It means so much to all our boys and everyone here in this country,'' he said. "Rugby league is our national sport, we love it.''

The Kumuls dominated from the outset, racing into a 10-0 lead within 15 minutes through tries from Richard Kambo and Gold Coast Titans youngster David Mead.

The Cook Islands, who reached the final after surprise wins over Samoa and Fiji, hit back with scores from scrum half Daniel Fepuleai and Newcastle Knights winger Lulia Lulia. But the hosts who had the ascendancy going into the half-time interval.
First Anton Kui raced over in the corner and Mead grabbed his second try after re-gathering a clever chip kick from Penrith Panthers halfback Keith Peters to make it 2010 at the break.

In the second half, with Jay Aston and crowd favourite Charlie Wabo directing traffic from dummy half, the Kumuls found holes in the Cook Islands defence across the field.

UK-based centre Menzie Yere grabbed two tries, while Mead posted his hat trick with a superb 70-metre sprint to the line. Wilshere converted five of the eight tries, including two tough kicks from the touchline.

The Cooks had the last word as winger Dominic Peyroux grabbed a late consolation try, but the Papua New Guinea party was already in full swing.
"I thought our defence was outstanding today, and it has been for the last two weeks,'' said Kumuls coach Adrian Lam. "There are a lot of young players in our side and we've certainly got a great balance between them and our older guys.

"I don't think it's really sunk in yet that we're in the Four Nations, but were excited about it, and well get our heads around it soon enough.''

Cook Islands coach David Fairleigh said he hoped his side's Pacific Cup exploits would provide a boost to rugby league in the nation.

"No-one gave us a chance to do anything in this tournament, but what we've shown in the last two weeks hopefully gives the Cook Islands Rugby League something to build on,'' he said.

The Four Nations tournament, which is currently taking place in Europe, will be hosted by Australia next year.

[jessejames91]

hey guys i missed the start of both PNG games but saw on a PNG news channel, highlights that showed part of a was dance.. did PNG have a war dance at this years competition, does anyone no?>

[Druzik]

Nov 4, 2009 22:53:15 GMT 10 jessejames91 said:

hey guys i missed the start of both PNG games but saw on a PNG news channel, highlights that showed part of a was dance.. did PNG have a war dance at this years competition, does anyone no?>

Not that I saw, but the Cook Islands did have a "haka" type dance.