Papua New Guinea Mosquitoes score big win

THE Papua New Guinea Mosquitoes started their AFL International Cup campaign on Sunday with their biggest winning margin in an international
match thrashing the Japanese Samurai by 157-points, 29.19 (163) to 1.0 (6), to close out the first round on Ransford Oval in Melbourne.
The Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited-sponored Mosquitoes played what was described as the cleanest and slickest game against the hapless Samurais side who had no answers to the Mozzies’ speed and all round skill.
The Mosquitoes opened the first quarter, with Amua Pirika scoring the first goal five minutes into the game, which paved the way for an avalanche of goals being scored almost at will.
The team played a hard, uncompromisingbrand of football which should send tremors through the rest of the competition. Respect, dignity and desire were the order of the day.
The Mosquitoes were tougher, harder and hungrier than the Samurais, who tried hard all day but were ultimately dominated by a well-drilled unit.
Well coordinated with their ball play, good rotation, slick moves and with an extremely positive discipline, Japan could only pushed hard and hope for mistakes or loose play none of which eventuated.
An unlucky free kick paid down field, nearing the end of the first quarter, allowed the Samurais to slot their only goal of the game.
Like several other matches on day one – it became clear from the start that one side was a class above the other.  Even so, the Japanese defence battling against the breeze, forced PNG to work for the goals but with the class of the experienced Amua Pirika providing a potent target up forward the Mozzies were soon able to get scoreboard reward.
PNG scored five first quarter goals and the Samurai were held scoreless. Brendan Beno came into the game in the second term and PNG piled on another six.
By half time the margin was 73 and the game over as a contest.
Despite the margin the Samurai came out in the third term and continued to fight hard and often were forcing PNG onto the back foot and conceding ground back out of their forward zone.
The key though was the ability for the Mozzies to absorb the pressure and feed the ball back to a teammate in better position.
The last quarter saw PNG skip further away. Veteran Emmaus Wartovo capped off a solid game with a couple of last quarter goals including a nice volley out of the air.
Pirika ended up with a neat half dozen and Beno with four. Others to impress included Jack Philip and Jeffery Namete in the ruck and around the ground.
Acting coach, Andrew Cadzow, applauded the team for their effort.
“Japan was not a tough match for the PNG side, however, we went in not to thrash them but to play smart, respectable footy – and the result spoke for itself,” Cadzow said.
“I could not be prouder of the way the team conducted themselves today.”
The Mosquitoes take on India in their next game tomorrow.
Goal kickers: Amua Pirika 6, Brandon Beno 4, Emmaus Wartovo 3, Brandon Gotuno 2, James (Sunny) Yogomin 2, Paul Philip 2, Laurie Logo 1, Ferdinand Musi 1, Archy Mai 1, Ezra Gotuno 1, Luke Savere Jr 1.  The National