Kumuls shock PM's XI
September 23, 2007
PAPUA New Guinea side surprised a visiting Australian prime minister's XIII by surging back from 20-0 down at half-time to salvage a 24-24 draw in Port Moresby.
After the game, at Lloyd Robson Oval, Kumuls coach Adrian Lam said it was the PNG national side's best result against Australia and a special day for PNG.
Australia coach Mal Meninga said it was hard to fault his players' efforts but the Kumuls just kept coming, perhaps aided by a torrential downpour in the second half.
Australia dominated most of the first half but were put under pressure by some strong late surges close to the line by the Kumuls, though PNG failed to score.
Australian forward Luke Douglas scored a try four minutes in, which was converted by Kurt Gidley.
Joel Monaghan then scored an unconverted try in the corner which was followed by a try to Chris Lawrence in the opposite corner, converted by Gidley.
Within 10 minutes, Lawrence crossed the line again after being set up by captain Mark Gasnier for a long run down left field.
First points in the second half went to Kumuls player Menzie Yere, soon followed by teammate Nigel Hukula who took a difficult high ball close to the tryline.
Monaghan came back with another try but three minutes later another sharp pick-up off a loose ball enabled Kumuls player Paul Aiton to score.
The final Kumuls try went to Jessie Joe after another good pick-up of the loose ball as heavy rain fell.
For the rest of the second half, tryline surges by both sides failed to bring points.
After the match, Lam said the Kumuls had beaten every other playing nation in the world but today's draw was the side's best ever result against Australia.
"That's a great performance considering only three or four are full-time players, the rest of them are part-time players," Lam said.
"We defended a lot better in the second half, we realised what we were working on. Against Australia you need a bit of luck, I think we got that today. I still would have liked another point to win.
"It's a special day for PNG because we're the only country in the world where rugby league is the national sport."
Meninga described some of the second half as "monsoonal".
"It was sort of a game of four seasons there today. We got a lot of footy in the second half when the torrential rain came in," he said.
"We went all right, it was pretty hard to fault our guys' effort, I thought their attitude was fantastic.
"You've got to be there to take advantage, the Kumuls kept on coming, they hang in there and don't quit.
"We put ourselves under a bit of pressure, we could have won the game up here but unfortunately we kept on knocking the ball away.
"But the crowd was great and it's done a world of good for rugby league."
As usual at a major league game in Port Moresby, armed police were on the sidelines and police fired warning shots outside the ground to disperse large crowds.
AAP
