Pacific Championships: Tonga end campaign on high

Scheming Semi: Super League recruit Semi Valemei stood up in the losing side racking up 137 metres and a four pointer for the Bati.

Full-time: The Kumuls are the 2025 Pacific Bowl winners after dominating Fiji in Port Moresby. Veterans Nixon Putt (128 run metres) and Rhyse Martin (31 tackles) got through plenty of work while Edwin Ipape (118 run metres, one try, one assist) also turned one on for the home crowd.

80 min: The Kumuls get a chance to put the icing on the match after Kurt Donoghoe is penalised for verbal dissent and Martin kicks from 45m out to notch the half century. PNG 50-18.

77 min: The Bati get one back late in the match, sending the ball right for a scheming Semi Valemei who sliced through from close range.

67 min: More to celebrate for the home crowd with Lam and Martin combining on the right hand side to send Robert Mathias over the line to score.

62 min: Prolific Townsville Blackhawks tryscorer Dudley Dotoi can find the line! After some slick ball movement to the left, the Kumuls debutant leaped over for a try in the left corner. Martin adds the extras for a 42-14 lead.

59 min: After a break in play Bati take the ball downfield and Saukuru catches the Kumuls napping, crashing past Putt and De Belin from close range. Wakeham's conversion is wide to leave the score at 36-14.

55 min: Bati are on the attack and after a darting run down the right side Turuva looks for Solomone Saukuru in support but Zac Laybutt comes up with a try-saver. The Kumuls faithful are well and truly on their feet now.

51 min: PNG hit back with De Belin and Lam combining to send the ball to the short side and Kumul veteran Nixon Putt slices through for his first try since the 2021 World Cup. Martin converts for a 36-10 lead

47 min: Bati get the start they need with Brandon Wakeham putting a perfectly weighted kick up for Jope Rauqe who out competes Alex Johnston and taps the ball on to Kautoga for a double.

Half-time: With 55 per cent of possession and a 77 per cent completion rate compared to the Bati's 68, the Kumuls ran in five tries to one. Hooker Edwin Ipape racked up 103 run metres, a try and an assist.

36 min: A penalty against Rhyse Martin for a high shot on Sunia Turuva hands the Bati an opportunity to go on the attack. Fiji set up to the left and Milne tips the ball on to Kitione Kautoga to score. Brandom Wakeham converts to reduce the deficit 30-6 at the break.

32 min: Fiji find some momentum and earn a repeat set after a grubber is taken dead but couldn't find any gaps in the Kumuls' defence.

27 min: All too easy for Kumuls rookie Cooper Bai who slices through tired Bati defenders to score his first try for PNG. Martin adds the extras for a 30-0 lead.

21 min: A fourth try for the Kumuls and Macdonald is in the action again, managing an offload for Martin to crash over in the right corner. PNG 24-0

17 min: Some magic in the middle for the Kumuls with Ipape and Finley Glare creating space around the ruck before shifting the ball to the right and finding Macdanold to score. Rhyse Martin adds the extras to make it 18-0

14 min: The Kumuls go back-to-back after a high tackle on Morea earns them a repeat set in the attacking zone. Edwin Ipape capitalises on a quick play the ball and scoots from dummy half to barge over the line. PNG 12-0

13 min: A big blow for the Bati with skipper Tui Kamikamica leaving the field for a HIA. He fails the assessment and is out for the rest of the game.

11 min: Bati are made to pay for a short drop off when Jack De Belin finds Morea off the kick and the athletic winger links up with Nene Macdonald on the next play to score. PNG 12-0 

9 min: Bati forward Taane Milne attempts offloads the ball out of a tackle but it is called a knock on. Fiji successfully challenge the call with the bunker later ruling the ball to go backwards.

2 min: PNG are handed an early opportunity after Penioni Tagituimua was penalised and placed on report for a high tackle on Morea Morea. Bati defence holds firm.

 

 

Kumuls: A late change on game day with halfback Lachlan Lam shifting to the bench and Finley Glare named to start. Prolific Townsville Blackhawks tryscorer Dudley Dotoi comes in on the wing in place of Robert Derby. After coming off the bench for the PM's XIIII and then missing last week's game, Valentine Richard comes into the starting side at prop. Jack de Belin moves from prop to lock and Liam Horne drops to 18th player. Robert Mathias has been promoted to the bench at the expense of Jacob Alick-Wiencke. 

Bati: Michael Waqa drops out of the side an hour before kick off with Keresi Maya promoted to the bench and Kylan Mafoa starting at prop. The shoulder injury to Jethro Rinakama brings Wynnum Manly winger Ronald Philitoga in for his Test debut while centre Jope Rauqe also makes his international debut in the centres in place of Michael Jennings. Skipper Tui Kamikamica left the field for a HIA inside the last 15 minutes against Cook Islands in week one but is right to take his place in his 23rd Test match. Former Titan Ben Nakubuwai joins the interchange for his 16th Test match, the first of which came back in 2016. Akuila Qoro is 18th man.

Women's Pacific Bowl: PNG Orchids v Tonga XIII

Metre-eating Mataele: The Parramatta winger had a memorable afternoon for Tonga racking up a an incredible 210 metres and four line breaks to go with her hat trick.

Full-time: Martha Mataele grabs a hat-trick and Emmanita Paki chalks up three assists as Tonga march their way to a 42-6 victory over PNG and celebrate their first victory since 2020. 

70 min: Mataele completes her hat-trick and puts the icing on the match with Paki once again finding the scheming centre in the final 10 seconds. Tonga 42-6

62 min: Mataele makes it a double on the left edge courtesy of a crafty cut-out pass from Paki who is really stamping her authority on the match. Tonga 38-6

55 min: It's getting all too easy for Tonga with Paki setting up a simple catch and pass play to the left, sending Simina Lokotui over in the corner to make it back to back tries for her campaign. Tonga 34-6

46 min: The Orchids earn an opportunity in the attacking zone after Fonua is placed on report and penalised for a hip-drop tackle on Albert. However, the home side can't capitalise with Fleur Ginn coughing up the football.

42 min: Tonga's NRLW experience continues to shine through with Tigers forward Jade Fonua showing her strength to power over the line. Tonga 30-6

38 min: Tonga continue to chip away at the line in the second half and quickly come up with points through Tuifua. The crafty five-eighth uses her footwork from close range and hit and spins her way over the line. Paki slots it inside the sticks for a 24-6 lead.

Half-time: With 68 per cent of possession Tonga XIII capitalised to head into the sheds four tries to one. However, with only one successful conversion attempt from Emmanita Paki, PNG are still in the fight but just need to fix their errors (seven) with the heat taking its toll.

33 min: Fatigue starts to set in for the Orchids with only minutes on the clock until halftime. Tonga find their way back to the Red Zone and send the ball left to send centre Martha Mataele over. Tonga leads 18-6 at the break.

23 min: Ill-discipline from the Orchids hands Tonga more ball in attacking position and after some nice ball movement to the right Pani Hopoate muscles her way through five PNG defenders to score. Tonga 14-6.

17 min: An incredible moment for PNG when they take the ball right and winger Naomi Kelly finds some space from 60m out and races downfield to get her side on the board. Emily Veivers adds the extras to make it 10-6.

15 min: A blow for the Orchids with second rower Marie Biyama leaving the field with an ankle injury.

14 min: Tonga backrower Tatiana Finau looks to find a gap and darts her way to the line but Albert comes up with a try saver on the line.

13 min: The Orchids wrestle back some momentum and earn a repeat set in the attacking zone but Naomi Kelly hands Tonga another opportunity after an error in the play the ball. 

8 min: Ruby Fifita shows her strength, breaking through the line and spinning out of a tackle attempt from Elsie Albert to crash over the line. Paki adds the extras for a 10-0 lead.

7 min: PNG centre Relna Wuruki-Hosea is pinned for a flop tackle and Tonga are on the attack again.

3 min: A terrific start for Tonga after earning a repeat set in their attacking zone and five-eighth Malia Tuifua shows her class, punting a neat grubber in the right corner for Moana Courtenay. Emmanita Paki misses the conversion. Tonga 4-0.

 

Orchids: Centre Relna Wuruki-Hosea and prop Gloria Kaupa came into the starting side when the team was named on Tuesday while Maria Biyama has been promoted from the bench to start in the back row. Mya Muller is the player who reverts to the bench. Prop Essay Banu has been sidelined with a leg injury and Jessikah Reeves goes from prop to lock with Kaupa coming in. After being 18th player for the week one clash against Cook Islands, Muller makes her Test debut, while Wuruki-Hosea also earns her first cap. Mala Mark is the 18th player.

Tonga XIII: A late switch on Saturday with prop Ruby Fifita named to start and Kalosipani Hopoate shifting to the bench. The only change to the side beaten by Cook Islands Moana is Bulldogs forward Paea Uilou joining the bench for her second Test appearance after debuting against Fetu Samoa in last year's Pacific Championships. Kaylani Tavita is the player to make way. Vanessa Foliaki is the 18th player.