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The Papua New Guinea Kumuls have claimed the inaugural Pacific Bowl Championship after defeating the Fiji Bati 32-12 in the final at Port Moresby on Sunday.
The Kumuls flipped the script, having had 40 points put on them by the Bati in the group stage.
Undisciplined behaviour ran rife in both teams’ games as tensions escalated in the second half.
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“This could have been nasty,” league icon Andrew Johns said in commentary for Nine.
“I think it’s [Kurt] Donoghoe who comes out of the line and [Rodrick Tai], he ducks.
“I’m sure there was a punch thrown, a sneaky uppercut by [Epel] Kapinias.”
This was soon cited by the Bunker with Kapinias sent to the sin bin.
With 14 minutes remaining and Fiji trailing by 20, PNG was awarded the penalty with Donoghoe offside but were reduced to 12 men.
The breeze was a factor early as PNG turned the tables on their 16-43 loss to Fiji in the group stages.
Fiji had an early try scratched off after the ball was found to have been touched before winger Jason Qareqare scooped it up and sprinted more than half of the field to score.
The Kumuls eventually broke the deadlock 15 minutes into the encounter as Edwin Ipape muscled his way over the tryline. Rhyse Martin followed with the conversion.
This kick-started a run of tries for the Kumuls as they went back-to-back through Robert Derby.
Moments later, Derby nabbed his second with PNG allowed to set up as Mikaele Ravalawa was penalised for a dangerous tackle.
Soon after, this time with Kitione Kautoga penalised for a late tackle, the Kumuls opted for the penalty shot and didn’t miss.
Alex Johnson then capped a near-perfect half of football for the Kumuls. As PNG moved the ball to the left, Zac Laybutt dished off to Johnson with space to run.
Martin converted as the clock ticked down, PNG taking a 26-0 lead into half-time.
Three minutes into the second half, the Bati roared to life as Waqa Blake snapped up a bouncing ball and stepped over the tryline.
Fiji then looked to have consecutive tries through Maika Sivo before he was deemed to have bizarrely dropped the ball over the tryline.
A last-gasp comeback looked on as Blake bagged himself a second-half double, however, any hope was quickly snuffed out.
With centre Taane Milne penalised for a shoulder charge, referee Grant Atkin marched him to the bin for repeat infringements.
Adding insult to injury, Kapinias returned to the field and scored the knockout blow.
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