FT - PNG 28 def CKI 20.
PNG lose it so we'll pack a scrum but it looks like we'll wind the clock down to 70 mins.
CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE CKI: On field ruling is knock on - Teams' success rate against Belinda is 5.5/16 (across both NRL and NRLW). It'll go to 5.5/16 and an UNSUCCESSFUL challenge.
Spilled by the Orchids! They are going to have a chance here... But it is lost by Kiana Takairangi.
Ratu's kick is GOOD from the sideline - Brenton Speed needs to pay up at the 150 to 1 odds he put on this conversion.
Takairangi came alive in the last 5 minutes after a quiet opening hour. She created some second-phase play linking up with Chantelle Holloway-Samuels who showed brute strength to crash over for the try.
PEN CKI: Ruck interference.
Kick return up field by Freda Waula but a big tackle from the Cook Islands saves the day yet again!
Arakua imposing herself into this match late into the second half.
No goal.
Takairangi splits the Orchids open and crashes over for a well deserved try! Big individual effort to cross for the Moana.
PEN CKI: In front of the kicker.
Norris did go for the HIA - looks like Kapo was back there to play fullback which was interesting!
Time out here - one of the Orchids is down here and is coming straight from the ground.
That goes into the BOTCHED category...
BIG TACKLE SAVES A TRY! That was a certain try for PNG
Kiana Takairangi finds some rare space!
Cook Islands finally retake possession.
Veivers this time hits the upright for the THIRD TIME in a row!
From the mistake, Belinda Gwasamun found her outside woman and Allan crashed over for her second try and this one is getting quite lopsided on the scoreboard.
Ariel Ngatoko sorry on that one.
This kick failed to be defused by Morris-Ponga.
Veivers doinks it for the second time this afternoon.
The Cook Islands were making mistakes and the Orchids continued the significant weight of possession underlining the first half of play. A clever short ball from Ua Ravu found Latoniya Norris to crash over for the try.
Another massive hit by the Orchids and it wouldn't surprise me if Shellie Long had something to do with it.
Meli Joe taken on the last and it'll result in a change-over.
Yolanda Taute is HELD UP! Great scramble by the Moana.
Good hit by Lavinia Kitai AGAIN!
Kiana Takairangi drops it stone cold... Orchids on the attack.
Alesha Willcox crashes over the sideline and pressure relieved on the Orchids.
PEN CKI: Ruck interference.
Ball over the sideline by PNG.
Ball lost by Anneka Stephens.
Ravu kicks early but Allan tried to soccer it through again. Ball missed everyone and goes over the sideline.
SHOT! Massive from Lavinia Kitai!
GAME ON! Cook Islands kicking off with PNG getting further use of the football. Possession still 65-35 split.
HALF-TIME - PNG 22 leading CKI 10
Vievers doinks it!
Leila Kerowa crashed over in the shadows of half-time. It came off a strong run from Belinda Gwasamun who found an offload to Meli Joe. From the ensuing play, Leila Kerowa crashed over for a try in the shadows of half-time.
Offload was loose and has been recovered by the Orchids.
PENALTY CKI: Obstruction.
PNG held up on the last. CKI hang on !
Kick-off this time failed to be recovered by the Moana!
No goal.
Clever play down the right-hand side from the Moana and they hit back. Earnt the possession back from the clever kickoff and it was a blind-side raid from Lydia Turua-Quedley to find Mahinaarangi Rewi to cross for the Moana.
Kickoff bounces dead with the breeze working in favour of the Moana.
NO GOOD! 16-6.
Clever grubber kick there from Ua Ravu which took a ricochet and it was collected up by Lyiannah Allan who flew onto the football to cross for the Orchids.
Jessikah Reeves is held up. Mammoth defensive efforts so far.
PENALTY PNG: Looked like a player was tackled without the ball there.
PNG with a mammoth 65% of the football so far.
Vievers makes no mistake and we are at 12-6.
From the short kick-off recovery. The Orchids camped down the Moana's end and Essay Banu's effort was rewarded, crashing over the top of several defenders to cross and retake the lead for the Orchids.
Ball is grounded by Kiana Takairangi... just but good live call from Belinda Sharpe. Goal line drop-out to come here.
The onside kick is recovered by PNG!
Chantay Kiria-Ratu makes no mistake and we're back level.
Just like the Orchids. The Moana deliver a crashing blow. A clever dart from dummy half from Chelsea Makira sees her crash over and with the kick to come we could be level.
Jazmon Tupou Witchman creating space - the pass was knocked down and the Moana get a fresh set on the opponents line.
More strong contact here with Gloria Kaupa producing a big shot.
PNG made good metres and they turn it over inside the 20m. CKI to work it out of their own end.
Emily Veivers made no mistake with the conversion and the Orchids led by 6-0.
Roswita Kapo crossed after some sustained possession brought on by penalties and mistakes by the opposition. Following a crashing run, Kapo exposed the lack of markers to cross for the opening try for PNG.
VIDEO REF: Sharpe has a TRY! Confirming the grounding on this one
PENALTY PNG: Kerehitina Matua holds on for too long.
Ball now put down here by the Moana.
Koroi's kick has too much on it and it'll be a seven tackle set.
Kick goes dead from the Cook Islands. We have seen in these Port Moresby matches that the teams running from right to left are dealing with a strong breeze at their backs and as a result a lot of 7 tackle sets are occurring.
Some strong defence here from both sides. Cook Islands have had the better attacking chances early but the Orchids are matching them with some strong contact.
Brenton Speed on 9 reporting that Belinda Sharpe is replacing Darian Furner due to injury.
PENALTY PNG: Ball is raked out by the Cook Islands and the Orchids go on the attack.
Mahinaarangi Rewi has created some chances but some good defence from Shellie Long takes her over the sideline.
Good break from the Moana down the left hand side but the Orchids defended that quite nicely and the winger is crashed over the sideline.
GAME ON! Belinda Sharpe blows time on and we are underway with Cook Islands set to get first use of the football running from right to left here today.
Belinda Sharpe is in charge as a late replacement for Darian Furner - Todd Smith is on the line with Phil Henderson. Grant Atkins operating the bunker on-site in Port Moresby.
The Pacific Championship continues from Port Moresby with PNG taking on Cook Islands. These sides will do battle in a test match for the first time. Let's take a look at the late changes. For PNGW - Elsie Albert is out, Reeves moves to the prop position. Awoi moves to lock. Kerowa moves to the bench with Ulkambane becoming the concussion sub. For CKIW - Matua moves to the backrow wearing 14. Ngatoko moves to the bench. Sword-Tua is the concussion sub.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judges: Phil Henderson, Todd Smith
Video Referee: Grant Atkins
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (W) (28)
Tries: Roswita Kapo, Essay Banu, Lyiannah Allan (2), Leila Kerowa, Latoniya Norris
Conversions: Emily Veivers (2/6)
COOK ISLANDS (W) (20)
Tries: Chelsea Makira, Mahinaarangi Rewi, Kiana Takairangi, Chantelle Holloway-Samuels
Conversions: Chantay Kiria-Ratu (2/4)