PNG vs France

[danielyou56]

PNG desperately need the ball in Frances half if they want to win this game

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massive high shot from aiton, that looked worse than burgess's not on purpose but horrible looking

 

[jamesgould]

On no, France!!!

 

[danielyou56]

2 minutes to go penalty to PNG they're going for goal this is crazy

 

[jamesgould]

20 out, in front, PNG with a kick to win ...

 

[danielyou56]

wasting to much time just kick it

 

[jamesgould]

Good god, he's missed!!!

 

[danielyou56]

OMG he missed it from in front

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how did he do that

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PNG drop the ball France have won unlucky as hell gotta fell bad for mead but just a horrible miss

 

[cowboyman]

Mead chokes, PNG didn't deserve to win that in the end. The halfback had a shocker for them.

Well deserved win by the French. Really good, hard physical game.

 

[danielyou56]

thompson was great he made up for the halfback imo

 

[jamesgould]

What a brilliant match.

Goalkicking totally cost PNG, none from three.

 

[danielyou56]

what a dramatic ending much better than i thought either team could of won good game

 

[rhugh89]

Late William Barthau field goal seals narrow 9-8 win for France over Papua New Guinea at World Cup

• AFP
• OCTOBER 28, 2013 6:55AM

GOLD Coast flyer David Mead was left devastated after missing a late penalty in front of the posts to cruelly deny Papua New Guinea a first Rugby League World Cup victory in 13 years.

The Kumuls fell 9-8 to France on Sunday despite scoring two tries to the victors' one in their Group B encounter in Hull.

NRL winger Mead failed to convert both of PNG's tries but had a golden chance to secure victory after his side earned a penalty 25m out from the French tryline with a minute to play.

But he failed to factor in a strong breeze at Craven Park and his effort sailed wide as coach Adrian Lam and high performance director Mal Meninga watched on in horror.

Lam said it was unfair to blame Mead, who assumed the responsibility with the squad not featuring a specialist goalkicker.

"David is devastated," Lam said of Mead, who has battled back from suffering a fractured vertebrae earlier this year.

Josiah Abavu celebrates after scoring a try for the Kumuls against the French.


"He's a great young man and we spoke with him about how he's not to blame. He is a big part of our side.

"He's not a week in, week out goalkicker and we don't have one. That's the problem.

"He's blaming himself but there are a couple of other things we could have done better."Lam said he was both proud and disappointed with the performance.

France's Morgan Escare, second left, is taken down by a high tackle from Papa New Guinea's Paul Aiton.


The rugby league-mad nation still has a chance to progress from the group, which also features New Zealand and Samoa.

"If we kick the goal it's a great night, so now we have to pick ourselves back up off the ground. We couldn't convert our opportunities," Lam said.

France halfback William Barthau kicked what proved the decisive field goal with 15 minutes to go as France avenged losing to PNG at the 2000 World Cup, the Kumuls' last Test win.

French playmaker Thomas Bosc opened the scoring in the sixth minute before PNG winger Nene McDonald responded with a try in the corner.

Papua New Guinea's Josiah Abavu, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a try.

The Papua New Guineans started the second half with new resolve, a forced Mickael Simon knock-on resulting in the ball being spread left and winger Josiah Abavu crossing.

Bosc brought the scores level with a penalty 20 minutes from time before and fellow Barthau nailed a 35-metre field goal. France coach Richard Agar knew his side was lucky to escape with a win.

"If I'm honest, I wouldn't have had many complaints had we lost," he said.

Fulltime

FRANCE 9 (T Bosc try T Bosc 2 goals W Barthau field goal)

DEFEATED

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 8 (J Abavu N MacDonald tries) at MS3 Craven Park. Crowd: 7,481.

France celebrate their victory at the final whistle after the 2013 World Cup rugby league match against Papua New Guinea at Craven Park.

Papa New Guinea's Neville Costigan is tackled by France's Gregory Mounis.

France's William Barthau is tackled by Papua New Guinea's Mickael Simon.

France's Jamal Fakie and Papua New Guinea's Charlie Wabo, right, in action during the 2013 World Cup rugby league match at Craven Park.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nea-at-world-cup/story-fni2flhh-1226747952845