Tahiti

The bronze medal holders lost to silver medallist Tahiti 3-0 in a close encounter this evening at the BSP Arena.

The Tahitians were too strong and surprised the sell-out crowd as they put on a great show.

The arena was filled to capacity with fans supporting the home team but they were  disappointed after Tahiti stomped over PNG in the first set 25-22.

The crowd kept chanting and cheering the home team on as the pressure was applied in the second set.

This was possible after Solomon Islands defeated Nauru late yesterday.

PNG will now take on Tahiti.

The teams are warming up for the match at the PNG Power Dome.

The crowd is building up fast to watch this match.

Tahiti took out gold at the 2011 Games.           

PNG will be banking on key players Betty Angula, Nesta Sape and Captain Marcia Muri.

Five tries to PNG was the tale of the tape as they did it easy over a Tahiti side that was no match.

Bomai racked up 6 points converting three of the five tries.

In the second half is when Bomai grabbed her two tries one after the other.

The kicking responsibilities were left to Kymlie Rapilla who added the extras for both tries.

Alice Alois grabbed the last try for PNG in what has been PNG’s easiest win yet.

But PNG’s acid test will come tonight when they play Australia tonight at 8:30pm.

With Tahiti ahead throughout the match, PNG bounced back in the final quarter thanks to Gabriel Elavo’s five three point shots helping PNG up with 15 points.

Tahiti took the lead in the first quarter 20-13 with the help of captain Ariitimarau Meuel and Rahitiarii Teriierooiteral and maintained their lead in the second quarter 36-34.

With their home crowd behind them, PNG pushed their way through the third quarter but were still trailing by three points as they tried to close the gap 57-54.

The PNG V12 women’s team snatched the gold from the defending champions in just 9 nano seconds.

They clocked 2 min 26:61 while Tahiti clocked 2 min 26:70 in front of PNG supporters at the Naval Lancron Bay in Port Moresby.  

The first medal for a PNG team was won by a women’s team in the 2005 Palau Mini Pacific Games.

Senior canoeist Nellie Tetaga was part of that team that won the bronze medal.

The canoeists stepped up their efforts in the 2013 Mini Pacific Games in Wallis and Futuna where the women won a silver each in the V12 500m and V6m events.

New Caledonia won silver while Wallis and Futuna won bronze.

PNG came fourth in this event, conducted from the harbourside area.

This has completed the Va'a finals. V12 and V6 relays will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday at Ela Beach.