RLWC quarter-final England beat PNG 36-6
It’s all over here at AAMI park with a convincing win to England over Papua New Guinea. They’ll now face Tonga in a semi-final, while Australia will play Fiji.
Not sure England will knock over Tonga, not with form like they showed today. They finished with very poor completion rates, plenty of handling errors, and patchy form at best. Still McGillvary is a special talent, and Burgess will be better for today’s run. Widdop was serviceable at full-back, but it will be interesting to see what Bennett does with Hodgson, given the form of Roby.
Apologies for the Australian times, international readers, but here’s our semi-final line-ups.
Australia v Fiji. Friday night 7:30pm AEDT Brisbane Stadium.
Tonga v England. Saturday afternoon 3:30pm AEDT Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland.
Thanks for joining me, particularly those up early in the UK!
RLWC quarter final 79:00 England 34-6 PNG
Ryan Hall is over! It’s a seventh try to England as this one blows right out. Great footwork by Widdop to unsettle the Kumuls’ defensive line. Hall scores his 34th try for England in his 38th test. That’s a fair record.
RLWC quarter final 77:26 England 30-6 PNG
Roby lands over the line, but he’s on his back. Great desperation from Segeyaro to stop him in his tracks. Loved Roby’s game, I wonder if Bennett plays Roby and Hodgson again? Last tackle and Watson Boas intercepts Widdop’s kick with his foot, only to knock the ball on as he tries to pick it up. Errors, errors, errors!
RLWC quarter final 75:26 England 30-6 PNG
Another spill - this time by Bateman. They’ve got a completion rate of just above 50%, the English, a rate that surely doesn’t stand up against superior opposition.
PNG throw caution to the wind now - with offloads aplenty. As then tends to happen, Griffin loses the ball. Scrum to England. The fairytale run is over for PNG.
RLWC quarter final 72:26 England 30-6 PNG
England with a big 50m gain, Hodgson’s kick is well-weighted and finds McGillvary out wide, who then passes off to Watkins for his second try in just a few minutes. He has impressed – but McGillvary has been the most impressive for mine.
Widdop can’t convert - but it’ll be a win for the English in another seven minutes or so.
Updated
RLWC quarter final 70:26 England 26-6 PNG
With just ten minutes to go, PNG take a penalty 10m out after a shoulder charge off the ball. It’s a brilliant try to Minoga, and called a try - but we wait as we check for obstruction. Great ball by Watson Boas and then Ase, before Amean fires a backward flick pass to Minoga. It’s overruled, though, no try! Lots of boos - similar to the Lebanon call.
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RLWC quarter final 69:10 England 26-6 PNG
Crowd of just 10,563 at AAMI park. Very disappointing. Lots of calls for Roby to replace Hodgson in the next English fixture.
McGillvary! He gains an enormous number of metres (over 200 for the game now), literally ploughing through two defenders, before passing off to Kallum Watkins off the bench, who has the legs to evade all comers. The Kumuls look deplete of all energy and, as a result, chase.
Widdop has an easy conversion attempt – just by the post – and it sails easily through.
Updated
RLWC quarter final 66:30 England 20-6 PNG
Kumuls forced all the way back, they can only make it to the 20m and the Boas kick finds Widdop just short of half-way. O’Loughlin loses the ball - has it come off the Kumuls? No, it’s a knock-on, and scrum feed to PNG. Unbelievable number of errors from both sides today.
RLWC quarter final 63:30 England 20-6 PNG
PNG finally look to have some confidence back after that breakthrough try, but the defence is tiring, and England make their way to the 40m line after just the second tackle. James Roby, off the bench for this half, shows the ball and goes - it’s flashy, and the crowd liked it. He looks a real find. England fall short just 17m out - at least they managed to complete a set.
RLWC quarter final 60:30 England 20-6 PNG
Finally, PNG are in thanks to that handling error by the English, McGillvary, so good in the early stages, is caught off his line and Garry Lo is in! Well done to Minoga for backing himself in and creating something out of nothing. England finally succumb to the weight of their own errors It’s a difficult conversion attempt for Martin, but he makes it!
The PNG crowd are going beserk!
Try time Garry Lo!
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 19, 2017
The @PNGKumulsRL are on the board.#ENGvPNG#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/wRA9XMH48m
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RLWC quarter final 58:30 England 20-0 PNG
Whitehead makes another very dangerous break, running full steam ahead at the Kumuls defence, but it’s another handling error through Hodgson.
Frustrating stuff for the fans.
Must be going for the world record of handling errors in a game #ENGvPNG #RLWC2017 #KnockOn
— Giant Stu (@GiantStu) November 19, 2017
RLWC quarter final 57:30 England 20-0 PNG
Big line-break and meters gained by Bateman and Ryan Hall, Widdop then goes with the early kick and it’s a beautiful one that sits up on its end and lands in Currie’s lap out wide on the left. He’s only been on five minutes, and he’s got a try. Fantastic play by Widdop - and surely no way back for PNG.
The architect of that try, Widdop, converts for a 20-0 lead.
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RLWC quarter final 54:30 England 14-0 PNG
Amean with a spectacular fly and grab, and the Kumuls take a penalty after contact from Currie. The Kumuls really struggling without their captain, and the old adage that you’re only as good as your weakest player rings true here after some poor mistakes from the PNG bench.
England start yet another set from a long way back, on their own goal line.
RLWC quarter final 51:30 England 14-0 PNG
Watson Boas with a much-needed line break and dash for the Kumuls - but Baptiste throws a horrible pass, which bounces off Minonga’s chest. It’s just 2/7 completions for the English and 1/6 for the Kumuls this half. Awful stuff to watch.
RLWC quarter final 49:30 England 14-0 PNG
England fail to complete yet another set of six, this time with the sloppy play the ball by Olam. Our commentators muse that England, should they proceed, will struggle against Tonga. Lucky for England, PNG are also error-riddled, and Albert loses the ball in a solid Burgess tackle. It’s a horrible pass out wide, though, and England lose it again! The teams are exchanging rudimentary errors.
RLWC quarter final 46:30 England 14-0 PNG
Nice kick by Boas but Widdop looks to have settled at full-back and takes it easily, despite Aiton arriving with force. Still think he’s a better No6, but he’s been solid.
Burgess - who seems underdone - loses the ball on the half-way line, and PNG make the quick break. With two tackles left they’re all the way at the 10m line, but it’s an awful pass from Baptiste, who cedes plenty of ground to Boas, who can’t get the kick away. England to come again.
RLWC quarter final 43:15 England 14-0 PNG
Seven-tackle set up for England, just 12m out on their first tackle. A breakthrough here could seal the game - James Graham looks to go over in a gaping hole in the defence, and it’s called a forward pass by Burgess! On replay it looks the correct call - that’s two forward passes to Graham, who looks frustrated. Big let off for PNG.
RLWC quarter final 42:00 England 14-0 PNG
We’re underway again in this second half, with the English looking to fix their completion rate and make less errors.
Looks like quite the disappointing crowd in Melbourne - such a shame after all the Port Moresby games sold out, but it’s a much less hostile crowd for England to face!
Gale gets the kick away to finish the set, but Amean takes it nicely.
RLWC quarter final half-time England 14-0 PNG
So it’s three tries to zero at half-time, and 58% possession to England. PNG conceded six penalties to three, but the English made plenty of errors - particularly handling errors - twelve in total (already!) to PNG’s four.
Think Sean sums up most fans’ thoughts at the break.
England showing the class they have but too many simple errors will cost them deeper in the tournament (assuming there's no shock comeback) #RLWC2017 #ENGvPNG
— Sean Evans (@SeanEvans04) November 19, 2017
RLWC quarter final half-time England 14-0 PNG
The Kumuls make it to the line, but Olam is just short. At least they tried something different on the fifth tackle - no kick this time. Meanwhile, the English have lost the ball AGAIN! This time it’s Hodgson who makes the mistake - he kicks his own teammate rather than the Steeden.
PNG then rush the ball, and go with an unpreditcable, early kick from Boas, to the speed of Ottio on the right hand side. Widdop tries to kick it over the side line, but Ottio swoops and grounds the ball. It’s a brilliant try, unless there’s a push on Widdop by Ottio? Ref calls for a replay, and it’s ruled ‘no try’ - Ottio goes at Widdop with his hands rather than shoulder, so it’s ruled an English penalty on the siren. They take it over the side line, and we all take a deep breath!
RLWC quarter final 37:40 England 14-0 PNG
The Kumuls give away a penalty on the last tackle - they look rattled. Credit to McDonald who gets the ball back through some aggressive defensive play. England look to lose it again on their return set, but nothing’s doing - until a forward pass to Graham, which gifts the ball back to the Kumuls. Just 12/21 completions from England.
Here’s some vision of the lead-up to that earlier brawl.
.@PNGKumulsRL slow down @England_RL's sensational attacking raid with a late tackle. #ENGvPNG #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/ml9S2CDM19
— 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 19, 2017
Updated
RLWC quarter final 32:20 England 14-0 PNG
England come again through Walmsley, who looks to go over. Just checking on grounding - it’s not clear if he’s made it to the line or fallen just short, but on field it was called a try. Can’t see this being overturned – and it’s not. Three tries to England!
This time it’s an easy conversion.
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RLWC quarter final 31:45 England 8-0 PNG
High drama - Garry Lo spills the ball 10m out, England swoop and Whitehead drops the ball also. Lo stays down after some heavy contact from Gale.
Like me, some are wondering why Brown hasn’t had an HIA.
Not surprised Brown dropped that - should prob have had an HIA after that cheap shot #RLWC2017 #ENGvPNG
— Rob Halden-Pratt (@RobHP) November 19, 2017
RLWC quarter final 30:15 England 8-0 PNG
Scintillating speed from Lo after Segeyaro makes the line-break. PNG make it all the way to the 10m line on the fourth. Can they get their first? Ottio lands 5m out with one tackle to go, and Widdop swoops on the kick. They look confused with last-tackle options.
RLWC quarter final 28:30 England 8-0 PNG
Wayne Bennett looks unimpressed as the English lose the ball again, through Burgess - but the Kumuls themselves lose it on tackle one. Sloppy carry from Ottio. Looks set for another English try - and Sam Burgess almost makes it over himself from dummy half. They’re pulled up short - and England drop another ball! This time through poor old Brown (who I was convinced was/is concussed). PNG scrum.
RLWC quarter final 25:30 England 8-0 PNG
Another lost ball for England, this time from Hill, and it’s a scrum-feed for the Kumuls. Great offload from Otto, and the Kumuls draw a penalty of their own, making their way to the 10m line on the second tackle, but it’s a steal to Gale, who makes his way all the way to the 35m line. Almost a disaster for the Kumuls, if not for a wonderful chase.
A fight breaks out after a big hit on Brown - who is then dived on by Boas. Olam’s tackle also looked high - and Boas dived in with a fist while Brown lay, perhaps concussed, on the ground. Not a good look from Boas - who receives plenty of boos on replay. No penalty.
Fair to say Twitter users aren’t impressed either.
Fucking disgraceful from PNG. Clearly out, and he smashes in for another on the ground. Disgusting. #RLWC2017
— Nick Raynor (@nick_raynor) November 19, 2017
Updated
RLWC quarter final 23:30 England 8-0 PNG
12 missed tackles for PNG, and four line breaks to one for England. Penalties really killing them though - they’ve given away four already, with dire results. In a let off, Ryan Hall loses the ball down the left-hand side. Mead watches on anxiously, after failing his concussion test. Their set ends with another Boas high kick, this time targeting McGillvary, but it’s a great take to Whitehead.
RLWC quarter-final 20:10 England 8-0 PNG
Another penalty to England - PNG are losing the ruck contests. News has just filtered through that captain Mead won’t return - which leaves captaincy duty to Aiton. Huge blow for the Kumuls. It’s looking ominous now - with McGillvary over again on the right-hand side, assisted by a great flick pass by Watkins.
Conversion attempt to come - and it’s another miss to Widdop, who has started nervously.
Updated
RLWC quarter-final 17:40 England 4-0 PNG
Page with another strong run - he’s impressed with plenty of metres gained already. PNG can only gain 10m on their repeat set, and Hill, the front-rower, takes the kick easily.
RLWC quarter-final 16:30 England 4-0 PNG
56% possession so far to England, but the Kumuls come away with the ball through a steal to Aiton. They come again from their own 40m line and make some impressive gains through Minoga and then Page. There’s some rowdy PNG supporters in this crowd. Boas takes the kick on the last tackle, and Widdop loses it! Offside penalty to the Kumuls.
RLWC quarter-final 14:35 England 4-0 PNG
Widdop to take the kick - and he misses. He’s only going at 67% conversion this Cup. Impressed with McGillvary’s game so far - he’s been exciting - much like Lo for PNG.
Slick move from @England_RL!@J_mcGillvary gets another try in #RLWC2017.#ENGvPNG pic.twitter.com/uW2mBJjUaH
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 19, 2017
RLWC quarter-final 13:35 England 4-0 PNG
Penalty for the English - Hodgson tries the tap and go but is called back. They’ll restart from 35m. Action-packed opening to this game! Burgess gets dealt with heavily on the Kumuls’ goal-line, and the English come again - surely they’ll make it through this time - and they do through McGillvary! His fifth try of this tournament is a relatively easy one after they find the overlap.
Conversion attempt to come.
RLWC quarter-final 10:50 England v PNG
Great kick by the Kumuls, and Widdop is under all sorts of pressure early in this game. McGillvary shines early, with a line-break and another tackle evasion. The offload goes to Hodgson - but Garry Lo stops England in their tracks with a knock-on. Scrum feed for the English on the mid-way line.
RLWC quarter-final 09:00 England v PNG
40-20 by Segeyaro draws a big cheer. He regularly does that for the Raiders, and pulls out an important one for an English side on the back foot early. Bateman with good hands, but Boas intercepts with desperation.
RLWC quarter-final 07:36 England v PNG
Penalty against Bateman - I can’t for the life of me figure out what for (neither can the commentators, who simply call it “harsh”), but PNG restart from the 40m line. They’re 10m out on the third, before MacDonald backs away from the sideline on the fourth. They come back through the middle, MacDonald tries the offload and the kick from Boas hits the posts. Well done by the English defence.
RLWC quarter-final 05:20 England v PNG
Ball crosses the dead-ball line for the English, and the Kumuls come again with a seven-tackle set. They look to go over through Otto, who loses the ball in the air after Widdop failed to cleanly take the kick. Big let off for England, and Widdop at full-back!
RLWC quarter-final 3:00 England v PNG
Great defense by the Kumuls - who force the error on the right-hand side, and regain the ball. Big scare for them early – they’ve only conceded two tries in this tournament so far, and were lucky not to concede another there. They can thank captain courageous Mead for that one, who seems to be OK to return (not sure how!)
RLWC quarter-final 1:43 England v PNG
Luke Gale with the line break and a huge 88m gain. PNG captain David Mead is in big trouble with a heavy knock against the shoulder of Gale - who looked certain to score, but was stopped in his tracks thanks to Mead putting his body on the line. He’ll head off, unwittingly.
RLWC quarter-final 1:00 England v PNG
The Kumuls finish their opening set with a kick to Widdop on the 10m line, and they manage a fine chase, with England to start from their own 20. Energetic start from PNG.
And plenty of English awake... (good morning!)
Well I'm awake and have a coffee in front of the tv #bbcrl #RLWC2017 #ENGvPNG https://t.co/E4ulJWM8cG
— Rachel H (@rachhach93) November 19, 2017
I wish I'd gone to bed earlier #bbcrl #RLWC2017
— Tony Williams (@Tony_Williams88) November 19, 2017
Mornin' folks. C'MON ENGLAND! #ENGvPNG #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/oCzoj79Aku
— Mätthew Jämes Härvey (@Iwantsomecrisps) November 19, 2017
RLWC quarter-final - England v PNG
Ngaiire performing PNG’s national anthem - plenty of feeling in this one, if not the tears of the Fijians.
Amber Dawn-French follows up with the English national anthem. Not far off kick-off here.
Plenty of Kumuls fans in attendance
Great to see some PNG fans have made their way to Melbourne for this match. You won’t find a more passionate bunch of supporters!
It’s a beautiful 27 degrees in Melbourne today – and the rectangular stadium is looking in mighty fine condition.
ENG v PNG #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/RehQrnGwxd
— Natasha (@NatashaNicola90) November 19, 2017
Women’s Rugby League World Cup - Australia beat England 38-0
Meanwhile, the Jillaroos (Australia’s national women’s team) have stunned England 38-0 in their second round contest. Tries were shared around, with one to Isabelle Kelly (6th minute), Nakia Davis-Welsh (11th), Chelsea Baker (21st), Elianna Walton (28th), Kezie Apps (43rd) and Caitlyn Moran (60th) and two to Meg Ward (18th; 63rd). Chelsea Baker added two conversions, and Caitlyn Moran one. Intimidating performance from the Australians.
Other quarter-final results
Fiji beat new Zealand 4-2
By now you’ll likely have heard the news that New Zealand are out of the World Cup, after Fiji triumphed over the Kiwis in a tense, try-less game. The Bati will now meet Australia in the semi-finals (their third consecutive appearance) – a fascinating match-up for Jarrad Hayne in particular.
There were some brilliant scenes post match from the Fijians – with player of the match and captain Kevin Naiqama characteristically emotional.
"I am so lost for words...I just have to thank God in this moment...we couldn't have done it without of him...He's been forefront of this camp...I am just going to keep proclaiming the name, 'Jesus'" - @KevinNaiqama - Man Of The Match. Watch: https://t.co/hOxH6Vb5aY #RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/qrKtIAd02g
— 7RLWC (@7RLWC) November 18, 2017
Meanwhile, Tonga defeated Lebanon 24-22 to reach their first World Cup semi-final, after English referee Ben Thaler controversially disallowed the Lebanese what would have been a match-winning try.
Preview
Hi everyone and welcome to this live blog of the men’s Rugby League World Cup quarter final match between England and Papua New Guinea.
England
England will be boosted by the return of Sam Burgess, who suffered a knee injury during his side’s defeat against Australia, 18-4 in the tournament opener. Burgess had not been expected to return before the semi-finals, so is a significant boost. So will be the appearance of Jermaine McGillvary, who has recovered from an ankle injury after proving one of the surprise packets of the tournament. As Aaron Bower has written in his preview, McGillvary had not considered playing league until Huddersfield team-mate Leroy Cudjoe convinced him to give it a go. Huddersfield then signed him and, after a couple of loan spells in the lower leagues, McGillvary finds himself a try-scoring sensation for club and country. Gareth Widdop will again play at full-back rather than his usual position of stand-off, after an excellent performance against France in the No1. James Roby, the St Helens hooker, will make only his second appearance for the tournament, after an impressive outing against the French - but he’ll sit on the bench after the recall of hooker Josh Hodgson.
Papua New Guinea
By this stage of the tournament, those following will be aware of the religious-like aura surrounding rugby league in Papua New Guinea. The story goes that locals walk hours through jungles and mountain just to catch a glimpse of the Kumuls – and all three group stage wins (against Wales, Ireland and the United States) produced sell-out crowds in Port Morseby. As much as a quarter of the population will tune in to this game, hoping to cheer their god-like heroes to victory. As Bower puts it, “in PNG rugby league is not a game, it is everything” – and expect the national side to take on this game as such.
Back in Melbourne, the Kumuls will also be eager to impress Australian fans and officials – with the ultimate goal of joining the NRL. Their strongest domestic team, the PNG Hunters, have already won the second-tier Queensland Cup this year.
For this game, the Kumuls have included rising star Garry Lo, who has recovered from an ankle injury to take part. He’ll be joined by their biggest names in Paul Aiton (Catalans Dragons, Super League), David Mead (Brisbane Broncos) and James Segeyaro (Cronulla Sharks) – who will play alongside PNG Hunters players, as well as those from junior ranks of the NRL.
What they may lack in star power, this side will deliver in passion (in spades).
Final Team Lists for #ENGvPNG!#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/UCGE0pfKp2
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 19, 2017
Kate will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Aaron Bower’s feature on how Papua New Guinea have added talent and experience to their fervour, and will be formidable opponents in this quarter final. He speaks to English wing Jermaine McGillvary.
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