Pacific Games 2015

PNG thrash Tonga by 114 runs

PNG batted first and set a target of 190 after batting out the full 20 overs.

Jason Kila top scored for PNG with an impressive knock of 74 runs. Kila smashed 9 fours and 3 sixes.

Sione Manumu'a was the best of the Tongan bowlers taking 3/26.

Tonga ' s top order batsmen in Alois Pau'u (22) and Maamaloa Kuluka  (21) steered Tonga 's innings in the opening overs but their dismissals sparked a major batting collapse.

Tonga lost their last 7 wickets for only 18 runs.

Jason Kila with the ball proved deadly snaring 3/7. Tonga were all bowled out for 76.

PNG takes on Fiji in hockey

PNG will be under pressure to save face after a devastating loss to Vanuatu last night as they take on the Oceania Hockey Federation champions Fiji.

PNG’s men and women’s hockey teams are both ranked second to Fiji in terms of Oceania hockey.

The PNG men will also be out in full force against the Fijians after their women’s team went down to Fiji yesterday in a nail biting match which Fiji won by one point.

The Fijians are also leading the individual statistics for both male and female divisions.

Ageless Boino the man to beat in hurdles

The final will be run on Friday at BSP Stadium. 

Boino ran the fastest finals qualifying time this morning, clocking 53.36 seconds in his heat, which is 2.54s faster than his nearest rival.

Running in lane one, Boino used his experience to  advantage by making up metres and sticking with the inside lane runners at the start before making his move in the final 200m bend.

Using the benefit of the inside lane, Boino overtook the runners in the last 150m with his quick turn and smooth jumps over the hurdles to make a comfortable finish.

PNG pummel American Samoa 17-0 in softball

PNG took an early lead in the first inning through a young Florence Daple who stole to second and on to third to eventually sneak home.

In the following innings, PNG's sluggers in  Lisa Polum and Nadia Bais who brought more runners home through safe hits.

The top of the fifth inning is where PNG let loose scoring 11 runs to cause further embarrassment  for their opponents.

PNG'S pitcher Juliet Seri was in good form restricting the American Samoan girls through her combination with catcher Judy Nauvana.

NCDC moves to improve transport for closing ceremony

However Alu says that in anticipation of the closing ceremony of the Games, residents are advised to make use of the parking areas and bus shuttle to and from the BSP stadium.

He says that the commission has taken note of complaints raised from the opening ceremony where the shuttle was slow to turn around and ferry passengers to and from the parking sites to the stadium.

Top shots happy at Games operations

Despite a few minor traffic infringements and some cases of petty theft at some Games sites, operations commander David Manning says that the security operations have so far been good.

Manning says that with no major incidents to report,  the overall security detail has been spot on from initial scouting parties to Prince Andrew’s visit, the Pacific minister meeting as well as the overall Games venue and accommodation sites.

Vanuatu beat PNG A by 28 runs

Vanuatu batted first and set a mammoth target of 172 runs thanks to Nalin Nipoko's 40 runs. His knock included 4 fours and 3 big sixes.

Middle order batsman Andrew Mansale chipped in late in the innings with 28. Vanuatu finished at 9/172.

PNG'S Kabua Vagi Morea was the best of the bowlers taking 4/20.

In their response, PNG'S openers Chris Amini (80) and Riley Hekure (33) got things going. But their dismissals spelt the end for PNG as 6 wickets fell in close succession for 21 runs.

PNG humiliate Tonga 81-27 in netball

This is the host nation’s second successive win at the XV Pacific Games after day two of netball competition.

But the Unaisi Rokoura coached side will be tested tomorrow when they play the Samoans.

PNG captain Lua Rikis knows a win against the Samoa women will boost her team’s confidence and medal prospects and urged the home fans turn up in big numbers.   

“We play Samoa tomorrow, it will be tough and your support will help.”

Meanwhile, PNG were on top of the Tongans and by the half way mark were leading 39-13.

Tonga: Here for experience, exposure

With no proper training facilities or town competition before the current Games, the Tongan women still manage to score points against their more experienced competitors in the competition.

This is the first time Tonga has produced a hockey team for international or Oceania Hockey competitions.

Team Tonga women's hockey captain Vasi Feke told PNG Loop her team only had three months preparation for the Games and they needed more exposure at international matches such as this.

Burua fastest, Wisil in hunt

The women’s 400m medal race will be run at the BSP Stadium at 8 tomorrow night.

The women were divided into two groups to qualify for the finals, with Papua New Guinea coming first in both heats.

Home crowd favorite Toea Wisil won the second heat, clocking 56.64 seconds which was the second fastest time from the heats.

Wisil is the defending Pacific Games champion but clocked a little slower than Burua and will have to put in the extra effort to defend her gold medal.

Wisil won the gold medal in the 2011 Pacific Games with a time of 54.94 seconds.