PM’s 13 go down to Aust

By MELTON PAIS
A PROMISING second-half performance by Papua New Guinea gave fans their money’s worth as Australia came away with a 34-18 win in Saturday’s Prime Ministers’ 13 fixture at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.
It was Australia’s 13th win from 14 PM’s clashes since 2005. The sides drew 24-24 in 2007.
Despite conceding four tries in the opening half and trailing 24-6 at halftime PNG coach Michael Marum’s side made a better fist of things in the second stanza with debutant Kyle Laybutt and centre Justin Olam grabbing tries that got the 14,000 crowd into the game.
Australian winger Nick Cotric scored the first try of the game in the seventh minute after an even opening.
Winger Zac Lomax converted the try and would go on to kick four more conversions.
Australia took control of the exchanges with halfback Daly Cherry-Evans playing a leading role on attack with two tries as halves partner Jake Clifford settled in well in his first representative outing.
Lock Jake Trbojevic grabbed a try off a Cherry-Evans assist as Australia took a 24-0 with nine minutes remaining in the half.
PNG second-rower Rhyse Martin got his side on the board with a try in the 38th minute beating Cotric to a Lachlan Lam grubber.
Australian coach Mal Meninga’s side did not have it all their way as the hosts put in a more concerted effort in the second 40 minutes.
But PNG conceded the first try in the second half with Brisbane Broncos Corey Allen benefitting from an Edene Gabbie fumble to stretch the lead to 30-6.
PNG centre Olam scored a well-earned try after bursting on to a pass from captain David Mead close to the Australian line bringing the house down.
Trailing 30-12 PNG continued to match Australia in the middle third and forced the visitors into mistakes.
Debutant Laybutt pulled off several telling tackles and combined well with Lam in the halves.
The 23-year-old former North Queensland Cowboys player than followed a Lam grubber in-goal to get his first try for PNG as the gap closed to 30-18.
PNG played with urgency and looked to attack at every opportunity but came undone when a loose Mead flick ended up in Chad Townsend’s hands and the Cronulla Sharks five-eighth scooted 10m to score in the right corner.
Marum said his side were essentially playing catch up after a poor first half.
“We were trying our best to catch up in the second up but that gap was too much for us,” Marum said.
Marum congratulated the Australia for putting on a quality performance.
Coach Meninga was surprised by PNG’s second half effort particularly outscoring his side 12-10.
Meninga said his side started well and despite the field invasion in the 21st minute his men had got on with the job.
“PNG were on top in the second half and I want to congratulate the Kumuls for that,” Meninga said.
“They put us under pressure in that second 40 which caught us off guard a little.
“The ball control, enthusiasm and aggression from PNG was good,” Meninga said.
PNG 18 (Rhyse Martin, Justin Olam, Kyle Laybut tries; Martin 3 con) Australia 34 (Daly Cherry-Evans 2, Jake Trbojevic, Nick Cotric, Chad Townsend tries; Zac Lomax 5 con).