Kokomos Women’s Open Score Historic First Win

The PNG Kokomos Women’s Open team love their football. In just their second year in QPICC, they have progressed in leaps and bounds under the guidance of coach, Ricky Pon. The PNG girls are a mixed bunch experience-wise. Some have little to no rugby league experience, some have a touch football background and play with our Touch Football associates, QLD PNG Maganis. We have a few who play rugby league in weekend competition.

Our Kokomos ladies are much, much smaller and younger than their competitors. One, Quinnie Warin, wouldn’t stand any higher than 4ft 10 or 147 cm, but such is the heart and passion of these players that they take the field undaunted by the size of their opponents and give it their best shot anyway.

The girls had played the Indigenous team early in the day and were beaten 22-4. Their next match, against Tonga, was looking again to be another David and Goliath battle.

In the opening passage of play, T’Keyah Leong went down injured. Leong is pivotal in steering the girls around the park and providing much needed direction, so it was a relief when she finally resumed play.

Tonga staked their claim on the match with the first converted try putting them ahead 6 points to nil.

Despite the battling the much larger pack, and size being a real issue, PNG let the ball do the work getting it out wide to Valma Tsang whose speed over 40 metres had PNG score their first try for the match. Angelena Watego missed the extras.

PNG were now 4 points to Tonga’s 6.

Quinnie Warin made a break and offloaded to Esmee Kae but were unable to complete the set. Such was the scorching heat that both team captains agreed to stop the match for a desperately needed water break.

As they resumed the match, PNG put together a strong defensive game to keep the Tongan girls at bay and earned themselves a changeover.

Kia Henry made a break but was unable to take advantage when the half time siren sounded. The half time score PNG 4 to Tonga 6.

The girls came back from the half determined to win the match and managed to put Gemma Schnaubelt into space running on to score the Kokomos second try for the match.  The Kokomos women’s open team had put themselves in front, PNG 8 to Tonga 6.

Kiera McLean earned a penalty after Tonga stripped the ball. They took the quick tap but were unable to score handing possession back to Tonga. Josephine Wong, who had travelled from Darwin to take part in QPICC, pulled off a text book tackle to prevent another Tonga try.

In the closing stages of the match, Angelena Watego put in a pin-point perfect kick into the corner, with the whip-fast Esmee Kae, chasing it down and grounding the ball for the Kokomos.

The score now PNG 12 to Tonga 6.

The Tongan girls refused to give up and the Kokomos women did its best to keep the Tongan women from their line but the much bigger forwards were able to crash PNG’s party and giving them the opportunity to make it a draw. According to the QPICC rules and regulations, a draw would give the win to Tonga as they were the first try scorers.

The crowd held their breath as Tonga took the kick. The PNG girls screamed their happiness as they watched the Tongan kick fall short of the posts.

The Kokomos Women’s Opens had recorded their first victory beating the Tongans 12 – 10.

PNG were defeated by the even bigger Samoans in the following match and the Samoans went down to the Indigenous team who won the Women’s Open final.

Kia Henry was named QPICC’s Most Valueable Player for PNG Kokomos.