Orchids register first test win

THE Orchids registered their first test win over England, thanks to a last-minute try by Shirley Joe at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The second of a two-test series saw an improved Orchids side outmuscle England with skipper Elsie Albert, Carol Humeu and Gloria Kaupa paving the way for the home side.
A lone try from England’s Tara-Jane Stanley opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half.
But Papua New Guinea hit back with tries to Humeu and centre Belinda Gwasamum to bring the scores to 10-6 at halftime.
Showing more composure in attack, the Orchids were quick to post a try in the second half through Roswita Kapo to push to home side out to a 16-6 lead.
However, the match swung back in England’s favour with skipper Emily Rudge and centre Naomi Williams scoring a try each to lock the scores at 16-16.
The final 10 minutes saw the Orchids force English errors which invited coach Bagelo Solien’s charges back into the match.
This allowed five-eighth Shirley Joe to slice through the English defence for the winning try.
Solien said he was proud of his side for competing and stick it out until the final whistle.
“We did well in our first test in Goroka but we knew we could do better,” he said.
“So we reviewed all the areas that we didn’t do well in and focused on them during the week.
“We paid a lot of attention to our attacking and defensive structures.
“This is the Orchids third year. Our first target (in 2017) was to narrow the scorelines and go from there.
“It’s the first test that the Orchids have won so it’s a fantastic feeling to be a part of history.”
While the Orchids made history to register their first test match on Saturday, the Kumuls also up set the Lions to become 28-10 winners.