PAPUA NEW GUINEA PM’S XIII 6 AUSTRALIA PM’S XIII 66
TOM SMITH, Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Saturday
JADA TAYLOR and Taneka Todhunter both scored hat-tricks as Australia thrashed Papua New Guinea in the women’s Prime Minister’s XIII clash.
The Aussies ran in five tries in the first half then seven in the second, as they dominated possession and territory.
Cronulla winger Taylor ran riot on the left wing, while Parramatta hooker Todhunter came off the bench to collect three tries.
Taylor kicked off the rout by finding the left corner, before Josephine Howard gave the home fans something to cheer about with an early reply.
But the rest of the contest was entirely green and gold.
Fullback Andie Robinson slashed through, Georgia Hannaway handed Taylor try number two and Todhunter scooted over from dummy-half then backed up a Kasey Reh bust to make it 28-6 at the break.
There was no reprieve for PNG after the restart.
On the end of a Taylor line break, Reh delivered a perfect kick for Tayla Preston, then Taylor completed her hat-trick.
Todhunter nabbed her third try from dummy-half, then set up Jasmin Morrissey’s four-pointer.
Tahlia O’Brien scored a superb solo try from long range, then Taylor handed Reh a well-deserved score.
Rory Owen put the finishing touches on the scoreboard from a scrum set play at the death.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1 Anika Butler, 2 Ivania Wong, 3 Joyce Hobert, 4 Ruth Gende, 5 Jecinta Garry, 6 Gemma Walker, 7 Ua Ravu, 8 Jenny David, 9 Josephine Howard, 10 Gian Kaupa, 11 Doreen William, 12 Belinda Gwasamun, 13 Jafinda Sap. Subs (all used): 14 Lilah Malabag, 15 Cynthiah Peters, 16 Mala Mark, 17 Alice Alois, 18 Mya Muller, 19 Sareka Mooka, 20 Sherinda Philip
Tries: Howard (9); Goals: Walker 1/1
AUSTRALIA: 1 Andie Robinson, 2 Jada Taylor, 3 Rory Owen, 4 Tahlia O’Brien, 5 Jasmin Morrissey, 6 Georgia Hannaway, 7 Kasey Reh, 8 Jacinta Carter, 9 Tori Shipton, 10 Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis, 11 Chloe Jackson, 12 China Polata, 13 Bree Chester. Subs (all used): 14 Taneka Todhunter, 15 Montana Clifford, 16 Tayla Preston, 17 Ahlivia Ingram, 18 Khyliah Gray, 19 Tess McWilliams, 20 Lucy Spain
Tries: Taylor (5, 18, 46), Robinson (14), Todhunter (29, 34, 50), Preston (39), Morrissey (53), O’Brien (55), Reh (61), Owen (65); Goals: Hannaway 4/5, Preston 5/7
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 6-10, 6-16, 6-22, 6-28; 6-34, 6-38, 6-44, 6-50, 6-56, 6-62, 6-66
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Papua New Guinea: Josephine Howard; Australia: Jada Taylor
Penalty count: 1-2; Half-time: 6-28; Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski