PNG leading touch ahead of women's semi-final
Papua New Guinea women's touch team is in the lead going into the semi-finals against Fiji at Samoa 2019 XVI Pacific Games.
PNG with 15 points will play Fiji (10) at 10.10am on Wednesday at St Joseph's Field, Faleata.
The Cook Islands, with 12 points, will face Samoa (11) at 11am.
The women’s open teams from Tonga and Solomons will be competing for fifth and sixth place.
Read more:
Samoa will face the Cook Islands in the women's open semi-finals (Image: Pacific Games News Service)
Tonga coach Hoko Tuivai and manager Savelina Pale said that they are very proud of their players for giving it their all even though they only have six players with no subs.
“They have endured through all the 40-minute games with no rest. We are very proud”.
Coach and manager said that they weren’t able to form a full women’s team and were only able to fly over the six players which make up their mixed team.
Tonga has done exceptionally well despite the few players that they have.
Savelina said that they have appreciated the friendly encouragements and support by all the other countries and can feel the "one in spirit" love at the 2019 Pacific Games.
They are looking forward to their match against Solomon Islands on Wednesday and are ready for the mixed tournament which will take place on Thursday-Saturday.
In the men's open competition, three more round robin games are still be played before the semi-finalists are decided.
PNG is look promising as they still haven’t lost a game, and Fiji, Cook Islands and Samoa are not far behind.
Cook Islands' coach Jeff Halston is very hopeful after today’s wins.
Halston said: “I am very confident in my boys after today’s performance. They have done well considering our team only came together for the first time last week.”
Halston said there is always room for improvement but they are just taking it one day at a time, and are hoping for great results.
He said the team had really enjoyed the touch competition. “It has been an awesome experience so far. Everyday is a new experience and we love it”.
Day 3 of touch will begin with the last few games for the men’s open teams before the semi finals, fifth and sixth place and then the bronze, silver and gold games.
