PAPUA NEW GUINEA 6 TONGA 42
CALLUM WALKER, Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Saturday

TONGA proved far too strong for PNG with a nine-try haul – including a Martha Mataele hat-trick – condemning the Orchids to a miserable Pacific Championships.

Both sides had lost against the Cook Islands Moana leading into this one, but the gulf in class between PNG and Tonga was evident from the first whistle as the visitors cut loose after just three minutes.

Moana Courtenay dotted down before Ruby Fifita extended Tonga’s lead to 10-0 after eight minutes.

Naomi Kelly did respond for the Orchids, but two more efforts for the visitors through Kalosipani Hopoate and Mataele made it 18-6 at half-time.

And, things didn’t exactly get much better for the home side following the resumption, Malia Tuifua and Jade Fonua scoring within four minutes of each other for a 30-6 lead.

Simina Lokotui rubbed further salt into PNG’s wounds after a period of parity before Mataele notched her hat-trick after the hour to firmly put the icing on top of the Tonga cake.

The 42-6 deficit could have been a lot worse had Emmanita Paki converted more than just three out of the available nine, but the day belonged to Tonga regardless.

PNG: 1 Fleur Ginn (Parramatta Eels), 2 Ruth Gende (Port Moresby Vipers), 3 Tia Molo (Redcliffe Dolphins), 4 Relna Wuruki-Hosea (Canberra Raiders), 5 Naomi Kelly (Central Dabaris), 6 India Seeto (Easts Tigers), 7 Caitlin Tanner (Mackay Cutters), 8 Elsie Albert (Parramatta Eels), 9 Emily Veivers (Wigan Warriors), 10 Gloria Kaupa (Wests Tigers), 11 Sareka Mooka (Northern Pride), 16 Marie Biyama (Western Clydesdales), 13 Jessikah Reeves (Wests Tigers). Subs (all used): 12 Mya Muller (Penrith Panters), 14 Therese Aiton (Western Clydesdales), 15 Emmogen Taumafai (Sunshine Coast Falcons), 17 Belinda Gwasamun (Mount Hagen Eagles)

Tries: Kelly (17); Goals: Veivers 1/1

TONGA: 1 Ana Malupo (North Queensland Cowboys), 2 Moana Courtenay (Canterbury Bulldogs), 3 Fane Finau (Newcastle Knights), 4 Martha Mataele (Parramatta Eels), 5 Simina Lokotui (Canterbury Bulldogs), 6 Malia Tuifua (North Queensland Cowboys), 7 Emmanita Paki (New Zealand Warriors), 8 Natasha Penitani (Gold Coast Titans), 9 Seli Mailangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs), 17 Ruby Fifita (Wests Tigers), 11 Shannon Muru (Canterbury Bulldogs), 16 Tatiana Finau (Canberra Raiders), 13 Amelia Huakau (Wests Tigers). Subs (all used): 10 Kalosipani Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs), 15 Jade Fonua (Wests Tigers), 18 Pauline Suli-Ruka (Canterbury Bulldogs), 20 Paea Uilou (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Tries: Courtenay (3), Fifita (8), Hopoate (23), Mataele (33, 62, 70), Tuifua (38), Fonua (42), Lokotui (54); Goals: Paki 3/9

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-10, 6-10, 6-14, 6-18; 6-24, 6-30, 6-34, 6-38, 6-42

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
PNG: Elsie Albert; Tonga: Martha Mataele

Penalty count: 8-10; Half-time: 6-18; Referee: Kasey Badger