MATCH REPORT: PNG World Cup Match v Ireland
LIVE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH PNG v IRL
The players make their way on to the ground for the anthems of both countries.
There is nothing like your country’s national anthem, sung beautifully, to get you focussed on the game at hand.
Let’s Go Kumuls!
FIRST HALF – WE HAVE BLAST OFF!
Ireland have kicked off and early indications are this is going to be a bruising encounter.
Kumuls have kicked out on the full on the last tackle.
Ireland up fast in defence saw Watson Boas cough up possession. Ireland have the ball.
PNG looking at sixes and sevens in their own in goal area.
PNG knock on and Ireland have scored after PNG failed to ground the ball.
PNG 0 v IRL 6 – after 6 minutes.
PNG have stepped it up a gear in defence. Wrapping up the Ireland attack.
Watson Boas misses the last tackle kick. Ireland back in possession.
Ireland penalised for hands on the ball in the ruck. PNG unable to take advantage.
PNG seemed to be suffering a little from nerves. They need to compose themselves and settle the play.
Garry Lo plays the ball to Minoga who goes within centimetres of the line. Ireland concede penalty 10 metres out.
GARRY LO IS IN TO SCORE!
PNG 4 v IRL 6 KTC.
Rhyse Martin’s kick hits the post and bounces back in play. The touchies wave it away.
Willie Minoga makes a beautiful break and has Katio Otto to his left and in the clear but doesn’t give it.
Page makes a 30 metre break. PNG put up kick, Nene McDonald up batted it back to Martin who dropped it missing a sure try.
PNG again look to score another sure try but it is passed straight into the hands of an Irish player.
Some brilliant PNG play but they need to settle it, make sure of it. Especially early in the tackle count.
Nene McDonald ducks and weaves his way for another PNG TRY!
The kick from Rhyse Martin goes across the face of the goals.
PNG 8 v IRL 6.
Justin Olam with error no. 8 from the Kumuls.
PNG strip the ball. Concede penalty to IRL. McCarthy is repelled on the line. PNG defence force IRL to knock on
David Mead coughs up the ball from a bruising Irish two man tackle.
The Irish knock on. Kumuls get the feed.
Segeyaro kicks on the 4th but was too deep. Half time siren goes.
HALF TIME PNG 8 v IRL 6.
HALF TIME COMMENTARY.
While PNG were the dominant team through the first half, their game was riddled with unforced errors. Sure tries went begging with pushed passes and dropped ball. They need to compose themselves, settle the play, complete sets and force repeat sets.
Though the score looks tight I expect that PNG will extend their lead over the fatigued Irish.
SECOND HALF:
SECOND HALF Kick off from David Mead! Lets Go KUMULS!
PNG kick the ball into in goal. Lo claiming to have grounded it. Video Ref calls Lo’s foot on dead ball line.
Irish cough up the ball into Nene McDonald’s hands and knocks it on.
Irish knock on. PNG feed the scrum.
PNG on the attack 20 metres out. Wellington Albert with a cracking run. Last tackle grubber PNG tackle IRL in goal area.
IRL win the penalty after PNG forced the ball down in the play the ball. IRL on the attack 5m out.
IRL kicked in goal, Segyaro recovered and ran it safely into play.
PNG give away penalty. 30 metres out. They look like they would score but ball popped up in the tackle into PNG hands.
PNG are not playing with any structure.
Ase Boas puts up the last tackle kick. Ireland safely take the ball 10m out.
Garry Lo gets the ball and drops it on – on the first tackle.
PNG get penalty. 10m out. David Mead at speed but IRL keep him out.
Ase Boas puts the predicable kick through but the Irish are on it. IRL force it out. PNG get line drop out.
Got to give it to the IRL. The defence is doing its job today. PNG have all sorts of problems trying to penetrate.
17 minutes play remaining. #PNG 8 v #IRL 6. IRL 10m out.
Last tackle from kick into PNG hands. PNG work it out the 40m line – and turn it over.
PNG in possession and on the run! 3rd tackle 35m from the try line and PNG’s Ase Boas puts through a forward pass.
Only 2 points the difference and 12 minutes left to play. David Mead flies to take IRL kick.
Error no 17 from PNG. IRL back in possession.
Baptiste makes break. Next play sees Lo with a forward pass to the winger for what would have been a sure try.
PNG make another error. 7 minutes left to play. PNG up by two.
Regardless of the outcome but this has been a courageous match from the @Irelandrl team.
IRL drop the ball. PNG scrum feed. Can PNG complete an error-free set? Yes. Boas kicks it into touch. 3 mins to go.
The Irish drop the ball and Watson Boas SCORES!
PNG 12 vs IRL 6. 1 min remaining KTC.
Ase Boas kick is successful. PNG 14 v IRL 6
FULL TIME SCORE: PNG 14 v IRL 6
That was an error riddled match from PNG and they were incredibly lucky to get away with the win.
IRL were outstanding. They did the basics well & nearly pulled off the biggest upset so far in the World Cup. Well done!
