PNG beat NSW side in city heat

THE Papua New Guinea Residents Under-23s beat New South Wales Country U23s with a scrappy 18-12 win at the Oil Search National Football Stadium yesterday.
The home side took a slim 8-6 lead at halftime thanks to tries to prop Muka Peter Kulu and five-eighth Edwin Ipape while NSW speedster Owen Blair picked off an intercept to open the scoring for the day.
Played in humid conditions, the visitors competed well in the opening with big men Caleb Zeibell and Jack Kavanagh making inroads into the PNG defence.
But the effort fell apart in the final quarter thanks to the conditions as well as some tenacious defence by coach Stanley Tepend’s men.
Ipape was a revelation in the No.6 jersey complementing half Mark Tony as the pair directed play, ran and passed well against a gritty NSW.
The Lae Tigers playmaker ended up scoring a brace with both tries having a similar look — beating a slow inside defender.
The visitors were first to score after the break through reserve hooker Zac Greene who had an early introduction to the game after starting No.9 Joseph Besgrove dislocated his shoulder early in the first half.
At 12-8 in front, NSW Country’s halves Derek Hay and Michael Dwane did their best to keep the game in the PNG half.
After several close calls, PNG finally drew level when centre Brendon Nima twisted and twirled the ball over the line.
Ipape crossed for his second and the match-winner in the 71st minute as the game descended to a scrappy final eight minutes as both sides traded mistakes in the afternoon heat.
PNG assistance coach Glen Nami said the team had done well considering they had three days of training.
“I think we got a little complacent at halftime because we were in the lead and NSW put us under pressure in the secondf half but we finished well,” Nami said.