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Kumuls conquer Fiji 26-14

Luke Page of PNG celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the 2018 Pacific Test Invitational match between Fiji and Papua New Guinea at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on June 23, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
23rd June, 2018
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The underdog PNG Kumuls have upset Fiji 26-14 after scoring four first-half tries in Campbelltown.

The Kumuls dominated physically in the first forty minutes and that allowed them to pile on the points to head into the sheds leading 26-4.

Their first try came in the 13th minute when halfback Watson Boas ran across field before offloading to his winger Junior Rau to score in the corner on his Test debut.

PNG were in again five minutes later when prop Luke Page spun in a tackle to break free and score a soft try under the posts.

They had a third try disallowed five minutes later when centre Willie Minoga was ruled to have intentionally knocked the ball forward in the air when regathering a kick. That decision could have gone either way.

Fiji scored their only try of the half in the 33rd minute to make the score 14-4. They ran the ball from a scrum and Penrith centre Tyrone Phillips used his size and strength to barge his way over.

But the Kumuls responded with two more tries of their own late in the half.

Winger Junior Rau crossed for his second try after getting a great flick pass from fullback Justin Olam to score out wide again. Canterbury backrower Rhyse Martin then nailed his second sideline conversion for the match.

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Then just before the half-time hooter sounded, James Segeyaro busted Fiji up the middle before offloading to Olam who scored under the posts.

Fiji had to score first in the second half and they did that through Canterbury winger Marcelo Montoya, who grounded a Jarryd Hayne grubber to score in the corner in the 55th minute.

Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu then crossed in the 69th minute for the Fijians, after being on the end of a great ball from fullback Kevin Naiqama. That reduced the margin to 12 points, but it was as close as the Fijians were to get in the face of spirited PNG defence.

The Kumuls played with plenty of passion, wearing black arm bands to honour the memory of their former teammate Kato Ottio who tragically passed away earlier this year.

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