Orchids hopeful

OIL Search Papua New Guinea Orchids coach Bagelo Solien is working on getting his combinations right for their test against England Women at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, next Saturday (2pm kick-off).
With only a handful of the players retained from the Rugby League World Cup Nines squad, Solien will be hoping his charges gel in time to face the Craig Richards-coached side.
The key positions will need to be filled in by a specialist hooker, halfback and five-eighth with Solien to choose from five Australian-based players and 14 local footballers.
The Orchids’ Australian contingent is led by veteran Tahina Booth and Angelena Watego, who co-captained PNG at the Nines World Cup.
England, who beat the Orchids 25-4 at the World Cup Nines two weeks ago, will be expecting a physical battle throughout the series in their maiden tour of PNG.
Elsie Albert, a student at the Unversity of Natural Resources and Environment in Rabaul, will again be called upon to lead the Orchids defence.
Following the Goroka test, both sides will again face off in a curtain-raiser to the Kumuls-British Lions showdown at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Nov 16.
Tickets, which will only be sold at the NSI gate, are going for K10 per person. Orchids: Elsie Albert, Lyna Allan, Tahina Booth, Charity Emika, Belinda Gwassumum, Carol Humeu, Shirley Joe, Janet Johns, Erswin Kaiat, Roswita Kapo, Gloria Kaupa, Lila Malabag, Kia Henry Monaei, Angelika Nanege, Elizabeth Paisoi, Ua Ravu, Seroge Sabume, Gemma Walker Schnaubelt, Janaya Trapman, Angelena Watego.
England Women: D​annielle Anderson, Caitlin Beevers, Charlotte Booth, Leah Burke, Chantelle Crowl, Jodie Cunningham, Grace Field, Faye Gaskin, Kelsey Gentles, Rebecca Greenfield, Shona Hoyle, Amy Johnson, Tara Jones, Shannon Lacey, Rhiannion Marshall, Sinead Peach, Tamzin Renouf, Georgia Roche, Emily Rudge, Tara-Jane Stanley, Rachel Thompson, Naomi Williams, Georgia Wilson.