PNG crush Fiji

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Thursday 15th December 2011

By LESLIE OMARO
THE PNG Binatangs crushed hosts Fiji by 47 points in the opening round of the 2011 Youth AFL Oceania Cup in Suva, Fiji, yesterday.
PNG 8.5 (53) defeated Fiji 1.0 (6).
West New Britain (Kimbe) trio of Junior Francis and Lavatu brothers Junior Jim and Kennedy played a leading role in the first up victory.
Junior kicked half of the goals while Francis and Mt Hagen-based Jason So-ong kicked four and two goals respectively.
Team manager Moses Kar said that the Binatangs played very well considering their opponents were bigger.
“They (Fiji) were big boys but that did not worry the boys, they played very well and skillfully to surprise the Fijians.
“Harry Kambuou, Jacky Tony, Kennedy Lavatu and Michael Macca were our best players on the field.
“Coach Walter Yangomina was very excited about the win because he kept rotating the positions the boys were playing in to see their skills.
“And that paid off very well against the taller and bigger Fijians,” said Kar.
PNG will play Vanuatu this morning at 9am (6am PNG time) and Tonga at 2.30pm (10am PNG time).
“Walter is confident we can beat Vanuatu and Tonga and go all way to the finals,” said Kar.
Binatangs impressive win comes off the back of a very good start in the Lightening Carnival on Tuesday. 
PNG won all its three matches against New Zealand, Nauru and Vanuatu and finished first on the ladder of the seeding round.
In the first game PNG 3.4 (22) defeated New Zealand 0.3 (3) and in the second game had to play hard to beat Nauru 3.3 (21) – 3.2 (20).
In their last game PNG thrashed Vanuatu 8.3 (52) – 0.0 (0).
Yangomina when commenting on the games pointed out the game against Nauru was won in the last 90 seconds.
“A very different side to last years winning side who were made up of the AFLPNG Academy.
“This side comprised of young 14 and 15-year-olds with a few of our experienced 16-year-olds.
“The boys started strongly against the more taller New Zealanders – wet conditions early in the day played to our better ground skills.
“The second game against Naru was a tough contest.
“They matched us in skill and there body size was certainly an advantage
“But good running from our young kids, Harry Kambou and Luke Severe after some gritty contest by Freddy Kalandi, Michael Macca and Jason So-ong won the game in the last 90 seconds of the game.
“Against Vanuatu our younger kids, Christopher Mong, Fitzgerald Jee and Tino Kante showed some ability through the middle and Junior Francis finished off with a hat trick of goals to set the Binatangs up for the competitions matches after finishing at number one in the seeding round.
“Best players for the first day were Jason So-ong, Michael Macca, Freddy Kalandi, Luke Severe, McKween Malt, Harry Kambou, John Lavatu,” Yangomina said.
He said several AFL club reps were already keen to keep an eye during the week, on how a few of the Binatangs play after the first day matches.