REPORT: Papua New Guinea 50 Wales 6
Papua New Guinea ran in 10 tries as they eased past Wales 50-6 in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The Kumuls led 26-0 at the break thanks to tries from David Mead (2), Nene MacDonald, Kato Ottio and Wellington Albert.
Rhyse Martin (2), Justin Olam, Mead and Paul Aiton scored five further tries for PNG in the second-half while Regan Grace scored a consolation for Wales late on as the Kumuls ran-out 50-6 winners.
TEAM NEWS
New Castleford Tigers signing Garry Lo started on the wing for the Kumuls while James Segeyaro and Kurt Baptiste also featured. David Mead captained the side.
Ben Morris started on the bench for Wales while Chester Butler started in the back-row. St Helens duo Regan Grace and Morgan Knowles also started for the Dragons.
FIRST HALF
Papua New Guinea couldn’t have got off to a better start if they dreamt it. Brisbane Broncos ace David Mead ran a great line and showed a great burst of pace to dive over in the corner. Ase Boas failed to convert but the Kumuls’ led 4-0 after five minutes.
Captain Mead scored his second and Papua New Guinea’s second just five minutes later. He burst onto a pass in front of the sticks to go get past Phil Joseph and score near the sticks. Boas missed the goal from close to the uprights but they still were 8-0 to the good.
Wales were struggling to deal with the intense heat in Port Moresby and it was evident, with the Dragons defending their own line a lot in the first quarter. Nene MacDonald shrugged off two Wales defenders to touch down. Rhyse Martin took over kicking duties and converted to put his side 14-0 ahead.
In the 26th minute, Dragons forward Ben Evans claimed Papua New Guinea prop Stanton Albert had bit him and the incident was placed on report by referee Ben Cummins.
The Dragons were struggling to deal with the strength of the Kumuls. Canberra Raiders ace Kato Ottio latched onto a superb Watson Boas kick through to score. Martin added the extras and Wales were now 20-0 behind.
Wales starlet Chester Butler was forced to leave the field in the first half and did not return due to injury.
The hosts scored their fifth try with just three minutes of the first-40 remaining. New Castleford Tigers signing Garry Lo made a powerful carry and offloaded the ball to Wellington Albert who stormed over the line. The conversion was good and Papua New Guinea went into the sheds with a 26-0 advantage.
HALF TIME: Papua New Guinea 26–0 Wales.
SECOND HALF
Wales’ Sam Hopkins left the field in the second-half and did not return due to injury.
The Kumuls again started the half the better side. Their fans were really getting behind them as a nice move started by former Leeds Rhinos hooker James Segeyaro saw Boas slip Martin through a gap, with the back-rower steaming over. Martin converted his own try to put PNG in a 32-0 lead.
Wales nearly went over in the 46th minute as Matty Fozard scooted over from dummy-half but the referee said he was held up.
Canterbury Bulldogs forward Martin got his second as he crashed onto a flat ball to score from close range. He failed to convert his own try but PNG were 36-0 in front.
Papua New Guinea reached the 40-point mark as winger Justin Olam pounced on a Martin grubber. The conversion was missed but the Kumuls were 40-0 to the good.
Full-back Mead became the first Papua New Guinea player to score hat-trick at a World Cup when he scored on the hour mark. Martin dragged his conversion attempt wide.
Catalans Dragons star Paul Aiton took Papua New Guinea to the half century when he burst onto a flat ball from Kurt Baptiste to score. Martin’s conversion put PNG 50-0 ahead with 10 minutes left to play.
Regan Grace salvaged a try for Wales at the death as he bat Lo in the air to collect Matt Seamark’s kick and touch down. Courtney Davies converted but Papua New Guinea comfortably won 50-6 in Port Moresby.
FULL TIME: Papua New Guinea 50–6 Wales.
MATCH DETAILS
Papua New Guinea – 50
Tries: Mead 3, MacDonald, Ottio, Albert, Martin 2, Olam, Aiton
Goals: A Boas 0/2, Martin 5/8
Wales – 6
Tries: Grace
Goals: Davies 1/1
HT: 26-0
TEAMS
Papua New Guinea: 1. David Mead (C), 2. Justin Olam, 3. Kato Ottio, 4. Nene MacDonald, 5. Garry Lo, 6. Ase Boas, 7. Watson Boas, 8. Stanton Albert, 9. Wartovo Puara, 10. Luke Page, 11. Rhyse Martin, 12. Rod Griffin, 13. Paul Aiton.
Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Willie Minoga, 16. James Segeyaro, 17. Enock Maki.
Wales: 1. Elliot Kear, 2. Rhys Williams, 3. Michael Channing, 4. Andrew Gay, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Courtney Davies, 7. Matt Seamark, 8. Craig Kopczak (C), 9. Steve Parry, 10. Phil Joseph, 11. Rhodri Lloyd, 12. Chester Butler, 13. Morgan Knowles.
Interchange: 14. Matty Fozard, 15. Sam Hopkins, 16. Ben Evans, 17. Ben Morris.
Referee – Ben Cummins