FULL-TIME - Fiji 43 def PNG 16.
PEN PNG: High Tackle
Good jamming defence forces Bula's hand and it goes into touch. Rare good signs from PNG in defence this afternoon.
Kickoff is spilled by PNG!
43-16.
A clever grubber from Judah Rimbu found the front rower Epel Kapinias who won the race to the loose ball to score for the Kumuls.
Judah Rimbu goes close!
PENALTY PNG: High shot - Epel Kapinias didn't like the tackle one bit.
Wakeham's kick at goal is successful. 43-10.
PENALTY FIJI: Inside 10m.
41-10.
Jason Qareqare added to the high score-line and crashed over showcasing his raw pace to burn the Kumuls defence to bring up the 40 point mark!
PNG complete their set after points.
Martin nails it and the gap is down to 25.
After some rare PNG possession. The Kumuls got some rare reward. A crash ball from Alex Johnston found Benji Kott who ran a damaging line through the Bati defence for their second try of the afternoon.
PNG recover the short drop-out.
Lam kicks early not knowing the set restart was called. Jason Qareqare takes no chances.
SIX AGAIN PNG: Second effort against Milne.
PEN PNG: Inside 10m.
PEN PNG: Inside 10m.
Milne broke through but the pass to Blake was half hearted. As a result, the centre puts it down.
PENALTY FIJ: Kickoff failed to break the plane.
Goal is good - 35-4.
Off another penalty. Crisp service from Noah Nailagoliva allowed young Manly prodigy Caleb Navale to crash over against some poor middle PNG defence and it was become a rout rather quickly on home turf.
PENALTY FIJI: Escort
Richard loses it. It's been that sort of afternoon for those supporting the Kumuls.
Fiji knock it on first so a scrum will pack down for PNG.
Horrible kick from Kurt Donoghoe. 7 tackle set for PNG.
PEN FIJI: Second effort.
Alex Johnston kicks it out of play!
Short 10 recovered by Fiji who are running away with it. A touch of complacency here for the Kumuls in this one tonight. I'm confident any errors will be rectified in coming matches.
Wakeham adds the extras.
Kyle Laybutt went too deep into the line after a strong hit by Blake. Sivo scooped it up and ran the best part of 95 metres to cross for his second in as many minutes.
VIDEO REF: Butler has a try looking to determine how the ball has come out.
INTERCEPT
PNG recover the short kickoff.
No goal - 23-4.
Fiji created space down the left hand side and Maika Sivo charged down the sideline. He charged over the top of Macdonald to crash across in the corner for the Bati.
VIDEO REF: Butler has a try looking to confirm the grounding.
This is what we call containment mode in crisis communication.
PENALTY FIJI: High shot - now we have some pushing and shoving.
PENALTY PNG: Second effort.
Great work PNG. Good defence and amazing work to get out of the in-goal.
Charge Down! Recovered by Penioni Tagituimua!
GAME ON! Pacific Bowl Week 3 action is underway! Can they defend their 15 point lead? Or will the Kumuls strike back.
Wakeham snaps the field goal and gets it! Half-Time - Fiji 19 lead PNG 4
Strong defence from PNG forces the ball loose - scrum feed to come for the home side. Time off while the former Panther Wellington Albert gets a concussion check.
Lam spills it. This has summed up what has been a poor first half from the Papuans.
Sirilo Lovokuro spills it
Important 5 min period before the half ends.
Wakeham's kick is successful. 18-4.
Donoghoe collected his second try, capitalising on the 1 man advantage. The slick ball movement out to the left hand side saw Waqa Blake burst through a gap before linking up with the Dolphin to score for the Bati.
Laybutt loses it - PNG are trying to score off every play and some anxiety is starting to settle into the PNG attack.
Johnston is crunched by Penioni Tagituimua!!
PEN PNG: Scrum infringement
Apisalome Saukuru loses it
Appo has been sent to the sin-bin for the tackle. PNG are down to 12 men.
PENALTY FIJI: King Vuniyayawa is hurt here and it didn't look good live.
Lam's kick was batted back by Z.Laybutt but Rhyse Martin couldn't get an arm free to extend the play for the Kumuls.
Fiji now rolling up field nicely. They've had a lot of the possession in the last 10 minutes or so.
Ipape fired a crash ball but Epel Kapinias spills it - just a bit too hard from the Leigh hooker.
SIX AGAIN PNG: Whippy with the second effort as the crowd ROARS louder.
Silly error by Gordon Whippy there - just a roll ball.
Laybutt had the flick pass but unfortuantely - Robert Derby was about 5m behind the play and the error is forced.
Always satisfying to see a 5/8 put a massive shot on a forward. Taane Milne getting sat down by Kyle Laybutt.
Wakeham adds the extras - 12-4 Bati lead.
Off the back of some poor discipline from the Kumuls. Penioni Tagituimua controlled the ruck superbly and found Tui Kamikamica who crashed over the top of several PNG defenders to score.
VIDEO REF: Butler has a TRY! Tui Kamikamica looks as if he got it down.
PENALTY FIJI: High shot
Fiji kick it away and Nene Macdonald comes down with possession. PNG working it away from their own end now.
PENALTY FIJI: Ball steal.
Wakeham from right to left nailed it from touch and Fiji took a slender 6-4 lead.
A clever grubber kick from Jahream Bula saw Nene Macdonald and Maika Sivo miss the loose ball. The ball waited for an eternity in the in-goal area before Kurt Donoghoe won the race to the ball first beating Johnston to it.
VIDEO REF - Butler has NO TRY looking to confirm no interference in the kick chase and a grounding (potential) at best.
Good shot by the young Manly lock Caleb Navale underneath. It forces Epel Kapinias.
Blake spills the ball trying to haul it in.
SIX AGAIN FIJI - Ruck infringement
Benji Kot spills possession trying to get up to play it. Was trying to milk a penalty there and referee Butler spots it.
Waqa Blake spills it in a strong tackle - Valentine Richard and Edwin Ipape in there.
Poor kick from Kyle Laybutt - Fiji get their best starting field position of the afternoon.
The crowd roaring every time these athletes go into contact. They love their footy in this part of the world!
No goal from Rhyse Martin - PNG lead 4-0.
From the ensuing scrum. The Kumuls shifted the ball out to the left hand side where Lachlan Lam combined with Alex Johnston who beat the cover defence to slam the football down for the opening try of the contest.
Donoghoe makes a mistake - the crowd roars to their feet. Kumuls force the error and it'll be a scrum 10m out from the line.
Strong roars from the very loud home crowd. Both sides get through their opening sets - it's an early strong start for the Kumuls in defence.
GAME ON! Chris Butler blows his whistle to commence the start of the game. Fiji getting the ball first and they will run from left to right. Very humid conditions and the wind isn't as strong as it has been in recent matches but it will be a factor.
It's one of the sights of the Pacific Championships where we get to see the Fijian Hymn.
Anthems complete - now time for the Fijian Hymn.
Time for the anthems.
Chris Butler is in charge of his first international. Phil Henderson and Peter Gough are on the line with Gerard Sutton in the Bunker!
The final round of the Pacific Bowl sees PNG go head to head with Fiji. These sides will meet next week in the final, but it's a good opportunity to run out any problems on the eve of the final. It'll be a big crowd in Port Moresby for this match. On the team front, PNG are 1-17 with Horne as the 18th man. For the Bati, A big blow with last week's match winner 3. Sunia Turuva and backrower 11. Kitione Kautoga are OUT of this match this afternoon. Qareqare makes his international debut on the wing. Elsewhere, Saukuru comes into the back-row.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judges: Peter Gough, Phil Henderson
Video Referee: Gerard Sutton
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (M) (16)
Tries: Alex Johnston, Benji Kott, Epel Kapinias
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Rhyse Martin (2/3)
Penalty Goals:
FIJI (M) (43)
Tries: Kurt Donoghoe (2), Tui Kamikamica, Maika Sivo (2), Caleb Navale, Jason Qareqare
Field Goals: Brandon Wakeham (1/1)
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (6/7)
Penalty Goals: Brandon Wakeham (1/1)