In the curtain-raiser to the annual PM’s XIII match against the PNG Kummuls, the Australian Jillaroos have scored an emphatic 42-4 victory in the first Test match played between the two nations.
The Jillaroos side, which contained Sharks Women’s Series team members Corban McGregor, Talesha Quinn and Jess Sergis, got on top early, took a 30-0 lead to the half time break before going on with the job in the second half.
All three Sharks women scored tries for the Jillaroos, with Quinn and Sergis making their international debuts. Ruan Sims was a late withdrawal, with the Sharks, NSW and Australian skipper not making the trip to PNG due to illness.
The match for the Australian team was the perfect warm-up for the up-coming Women's World Cup, with all matches, including all pool games and semi-finals, to be played at Southern Cross Group Stadium.
Below is a match report which first appeared on NRL.com, as well as a highlights package from the game.
Jillaroos thrash PNG in historic clash
David Sigston, AAP (for NRL.com)
Australia's women's rugby league team have thumped Papua New Guinea 42-4 in their historic clash in Port Moresby.
The match was the first Test between the two nations, with the PNG Orchids forming for this year's World Cup.
Split into four quarters because of the oppressive heat and humidity, the match was dominated by the Jillaroos, who proved far too professional for the gutsy Orchids in what was also the first women's Test match in the country.
Co-captains Renae Kunst and Steph Hancock led from the front for Australia with three tries between them in the first half as the visitors took a commanding 30-0 lead into the break.
After a physical start, outside back Corban McGregor opened the scoring after seven minutes with a try that Chelsea Baker failed to convert.
Kody House went over in the corner in the 33rd minute after replacing debutant winger Jessica Sergis, who had come from the field due to heat stress.
Fellow debutant Talesha Quinn scored her first try for the Jillaroos just before the half-time break.
Tries to Meg Ward and Sergis soon after the break were both converted by Baker, who finished with a haul of ten points from her five successful kicks.
The packed crowd roared when rampaging prop Maima Wei scored the first ever try for the Orchids late in the game.
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald hailed Hancock's performance after she had been left out of the side for the Anzac Test against New Zealand in May.
"For her to come back the way that she did ... I'm extremely proud of her," he said.
Donald praised the Orchids for their relentless defence.
"I think Dennis (Miall, Orchids coach) and his team have got lots to look forward to with the World Cup," Donald said.
Miall was happy his team were able to test themselves against the No. 1-ranked Jillaroos.
"We're proud of what our girls did today," he said.
Harvey Norman Jillaroos 42 (Tries - Hancock 2, McGregor, Kunst, House, Quinn, Sergis, Ward; Conv. 5 Baker)
defeated
Papua New Guinea Orchids 4 (Tries – Mamai Wei; Conversions 0/1 Aaron)
