PNG Gold win inaugural rugby league Origin clash

By DAVID KAPI
An extra time field gold from halfback and captain Keith Peters help won the inaugural Telikom PNG Origin match for the Internationals to down the Residents 27-26 at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Peters slotted the one-pointer from 25 metres out of Residents in-goal to clinch the victory, in a process earning himself the first Adrian Lam Medal as the best player of the day.
However, the Residents were off to a flying start with a early 10-point lead through winger Michael Mark and five-eighth Jessie Joe.
Mark from his first touch of football lived up to his reputation as the new Marcus Bai when he burst through four International defenders to score next to the post for centre Gimapau Keimelo to add the extras to lead 6-0.
Joe followed suite five minutes later for first of his double when he dived over the line, benefiting from good quick play the ball from big Resident forwards that strained the International defence, creating a gap for him to score.
The Golds led by lock Rod Griffin muscled their way into Reds territory benefiting from hooker Paul Aiton’s quick distribution from the base of the ruck which saw prop Kevin Pior dive under the posts and fullback John Wilshere converted to narrow the margin to six points.
The Internationals with their shot inside passes carved the Resident and their advantage to points with a two quick tries to Rod Griffin, for first of his double, and hooker Paul Aiton to lead 16-10 at halftime.
In the second-half, the Residents kept in touch with a try to full-back Menzie Yere brought the margin down to a try, however, a second Rod Griffin try and another from full-back John Wilshere nearly got them home.
With five minutes left on the clock, center Larsen Marabe’s try levelled the score at 26-26 to take it to full-time, but a Keith Peters field goal four minutes in the first 10 minutes of the 20 minutes extended time won the Internationals the first ever Telikom PNG Origin match.