Adelaide graveyard

THE PNG Export Lager 7s team were reminded just how tough the IRB 7s world  circuit is crashing to five consecutive losses during the weekend’s Adelaide 7s.
Heading into the two-day tournament, with hopes of making the cup quarter-finals being the best case scenario, PNG were drawn in Pool B along with sevens heavyweights England, emerging power Argentina and Scotland.
On Saturday, PNG played their pool matches for an 0-3 result losing their opening game to Argentina 45-5.
The result would have highlighted coach Shane Howarth’s concerns with the side’s lack of quality preparation since their last IRB tournament which was the Wellington 7s in New Zealand in February.
The seven tries to one defeat contrasted with PNG’s previous clash with the South Americans – a 14-10 loss in Wellington.
In their second match, PNG managed two tries against England who won 45-12.
Henry Liliket showed blistering pace to score in the first half while Chris Kakah touched down at the end of some enterprising play from PNG in the second half but again England led by a hat-trick to Nick Royle  proved a class above.
In the day’s final pool match, PNG went close to beating Scotland for what would have been a second occasion (PNG had beaten the Scots 14-12 in Wellington) but the Celts held their nerve to post a close 19-14 win.
This after PNG led 14-0 at the interval with tries to Albert Levi Jr and Liliket.
On Sunday, in the bowl quarter-finals, PNG went down to Kenya 26-17, however, looked more settled and held the Africans 12-12 at the break.
Tries to Levi and Brisbane-based Shadrach Ghabiliha matched five-pointers from Kenya’s Horace Otieno and Oscar Ouma.
Things looked promising when Levi scored his second in the first minute after the break but the Kenyans recovered their composure to run in two converted tries to extend PNG’s losing streak.
PNG progressed to the shield semi-final against Pacific Island rivals Tonga and it was again pocket dynamo Levi who blazed a double for PNG to lead 12-0 at the break.
Tonga’s inevitable fightback came in the form of tries to Macquire Tatola and Etimoni Paea.
PNG managed a try to Levi, despite playing a man down after the sin binning of Monty Diave, and led 19-12 but conceded a try to Sosaia Palei in the 19th minute.
The match went into extra time with Palei scoring the match winner in the third minute to end PNG’s hopes of making the shield final.
Howarth had spoken about the need for the team to keep their match fitness as well as playing to a pattern before leaving for Adelaide early last week but it was obvious from the performance that the team were off the pace.
PNG’s next two 7s competitions will be the Pacific games in New Caledonia in August and the Pacific 7s in Samoa in October.
Meanwhile, players in the extended squad are expected to play in the NGI 7s circuit this year which  includes Kokopo, Kimbe, Buka, Madang and Wewak.