The Aussie PM women’s XIII take on their PNG counterparts in PNG last year. Picture: DFAT
A double to Raiders flyer Kaeo Weekes and Luke Brooks helped steer an Australian PM XIII to a 42-20 international rugby league win over a PNG PM’s side on Sunday.
In front of their fans in Port Moresby, PNG led 12-0 after 10 minutes; Judah Rimbu burrowed over in the fifth minute and a Jamie Mavoko conversion made it 6-0.
An error by Australian fullback Fletcher Sharpe handed PNG field position and they capitalised when left centre Robert Mathias made 12-0 after 10 minutes.
The Australians then replied when Jamal Fogarty set up a try for Beau Fermor with a grubber kick.
In the 28th minute, the Storm’s Tyran Wishart scored the visitors’ second try from dummy half to make it 12-10.
Near to half-time, Brooks cut through the PNG defence and found Jacob Liddle in support to make it 16-12 to Australia.
Three minutes into the second half, the visitors went further ahead when Weekes crossed followed six minutes later by a 55-metre sprint to Weekes for his second try.
Australia then made it three tries in 10 minutes when Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored in the corner.
Brooks set up Dylan Lucas for the seventh try of the afternoon before the hosts replied with a 70-metre run by Dudley Dotoi who chipped over the top for Finley Glare to score.
McIntyre then touched down for the eighth try of the day for the Aussies before Alex Max scored for the hosts wide out.
WOMEN’S GAME
Jillaroos utility Lauren Brown played just three minutes for the PM’s XIII in Port Moresby on Sunday before she succumbed to a hamstring injury.
She was taken from the field in the 20th minute and spent the second half on crutches as the Australian women ran away with a 50-0 win on Sunday.
The Titans star had been due to join the Jillaroos squad for the Pacific Championships which gets underway on Friday.
Meanwhile, Broncos skipper Ali Brigginshaw has undergone surgery on a finger injury but will be right to take her place in the Jillaroos squad.
She was named to co-captain the Jillaroos alongside Kezie Apps and played the full 70 minutes.
Titans flyer Jaime Chapman was left out of the Jillaroos squad due to hamstring concerns but had a good hit-out for the PM’s XIII with a try double and 142 run metres.
- In other results, the Australian Schoolgirls were made to work hard against the PNG Junior Orchids for a 14-4 win at the stadium.
