Palais lose to Tonga, finish fourth

PAPUA New Guinea finished fourth in the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship after losing 62-26 to Tonga in their final match at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji, on Saturday.
The third-place playoff saw a revamped Palais side — coming off a 96-0 hammering — unable to maintain the intensity in the second half despite enjoying a hard fought 21-15 lead at halftime.
In the main game of the afternoon, Fiji beat Samoa 43-12 to claim the Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship title.
PNG assistant coach Paul Joseph said the side had played in a three-game tournament for the first time — the Palais played a one-off international against Fiji, losing 37-0 in 2016.
The Palais were reshuffled for the final game with a focus on playing open rugby.
“Most of them (Palais) were unwinding after the local season ended a couple of months ago so it was hard,” Joseph said.
“When we were told of the Oceania Championship we had to pick a side of players mostly from Port Moresby because of the time and logistics.
“That’s why we didn’t have players from Lae and the other centres.”
The Palais return to Port Moresby today.