Pacific Games 2015

PNG settle for 7-7 draw with Samoa in touch rugby

Samoa hit an early lead after Peter Hazelman and Beckett Leota scored touch downs to sound a warning to PNG.

A touch down from Bobby Vavona put PNG back in the contest however. Samoa’s Lima Lote extended the lead to 3-1 before half time.

The second half of play saw a flurry of points from both sides. Uari Sarufa from PNG scored twice to level the scores at 3-3.

From this point, touch downs were scored from one of the field to another and about a minute out before play ended, the scores were locked at 6-6.

4 gold for PNG in power lifting

The competition is being held at the PNG Power Dome (Sir John Guise Indoor Complex).

In opening session, the weight divisions of 47kg (women), 52kg (women), 57kg (women) and 59kg (men) lifted the bar to find the champions.

In the women's 47kg, it was a guarantee first, second, finish for PNG as only two competitors were on the card.

Hitolo Kevau grabbed gold and team mate Navili Benson settled for silver.

Kevau lifted a combined squat, bench press and dead lift total of 240kg, and Benson managed 234kg.

Business expo draws many but few buyers

However, Freddy Viribi, a local business man from Oro, told Loop PNG that many people were just spectators.

"Most people who are coming to the expo are mere spectators and  do not want to buy our product."

He said one of the reasons was the K2 gate fees charged.

 He said not many people were coming to the expo during weekdays but flocked in during weekends.

Viribi is selling Oro design caps, shirts and bags. He said so far his caps were “selling like hot cakes’’ which were always bought by tourists. The expo started last Friday. 

Flag carrier lets lifting do the talking

Linda Pulsan is the Pacific Games champion in the 72kg women's powerlifting event.

She will be defending her title this afternoon at the PNG Power Dome (SJGS Indoor Complex).

 Pulsan told Loop PNG in the morning that she does not feel any pressure and will let her lifting do the talking.

Speaking in Tok Pisin, Pulsan added that she will try her best to defend her gold.

Meanwhile, Pulsan said, she felt the nerves of carrying the country's flag, but those disappeared when entering the ceremony arena. 

PNG suffer defeat to Fiji

The home girls lost to bronze medal holders Fiji 86-60 today in front of their home crowd.

Fiji dominated the game, leading throughout the game and taking the lead in the first quarter , 25-16.

In the second quarter, PNG pulled through to keep up but the Fijians were too fast and had a height advantage with players like  Leba Korovou and Vilisi Tavui.

Fiji maintained their lead at the end of the second quarter, 45-31.

PNG wins silver in first mixed relay

Led by super fish Ryan Pini, PNG dominated the race in the first lap but fell behind New Caledonia who took out gold after clocking a time of 1:49:94 sec. This is the first Games record for the event.

PNG came in at 1:52:04 sec with Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane finishing the race for PNG.

This event included two males and two females each from every country that took part.

Countries that participated in this event were Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Guam, Palau, bronze medalist Fiji, New Caledonia and PNG.

Tahiti men dominate Day 3 of swimming

The Games record for the 400m freestyle of 4:04:72 sec was broken by Tahiti with Rahiti De Vos clocking 3:56:82 sec to win gold and Hugo Lambert swimming 4:02:90 sec to grab silver.

The bronze medal went to Jeremie Dufourmantelle of New Caledonia with a time of 4:04:96 sec.

Tahiti also did well in the 100m freestyle with Stephane Debaere taking out silver in a time of 51:04 sec behind Ryan Pini’s 50:63 sec.

Lambert grabbed his second medal  last night, finishing third behind team mate Stephane in the100m freestyle in a time of 51:41 sec.

Toua sisters lift PNG up the medal table Thelma Toua won three gold medals

Elder sister and multi-event gold medallist Dika Toua won her latest gold in the women’s 53kg category at the PNG Power Dome on Sunday evening.

Now she is pleased to see her younger sisters Thelma and Konio following her lead, after Thelma collected three golds in the women’s 48kg earlier the same day.

“It’s overwhelming to have my small sisters having the same interest as I do in the same sport,” said Dika.

Women’s 7s team downs Tonga in thriller

PNG grabbed first points through Joanne Lagona who was put through a gap and ran in to score.

With an unsuccessful conversion by Kymlie Rapilla, PNG took the lead 5-0 and held on until the half time whistle.

Tonga hit back almost immediately at the start of the second half of play and took a 7-5 lead after a successful kick.

 With less than a minute of play left, PNG knew the way to go was out wide to Lynette Kwarvla who took the ball and ran 50 metres to score right on the full time hooter and win the game. 

PNG crush New Caledonia 33-5

PNG’s Cassandra Sampson got the crowd on their feet when she made a break down the wing to score under the posts.

Two more tries to Dulcie Bomai for PNG extended this lead to 19-0 at half time after Joanne Lagona added the extras.

The PNG girls came out even stronger in the second half.  Amelia Kuk was next to grab a five pointer.

But the New Caledonians put up some fight when Yengo Yolaine scooted down the wing only to be dragged down metres from the tryline.