1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B

1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B was one of the three groups in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. The group consisted of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

Ladder

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
  New Zealand 2 2 0 0 47 30 +17 4 Advanced to knockout stage
  Tonga 2 0 1 1 52 53 −1 1
  Papua New Guinea 2 0 1 1 34 50 −16 1
Source: [citation needed]

New Zealand vs Tonga

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Tonga looked to be pulling off the shock of the 1995 World Cup when they came from 12–6 down to lead New Zealand 24–12 with 20 minutes to go in the game at Wilderspool Stadium. However, late tries to Hitro Okesene and Richie Blackmore (his second), both converted by Matthew Ridge who also landed a field goal in the dying moments, saved the Kiwis from an embarrassing loss.

8 October 1995
New Zealand   25 – 24   Tonga
Tries:
Richie Blackmore (2)
Sean Hoppe
Tony Kemp
Hitro Okesene
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (2/5)
Field Goals:
Matthew Ridge (1)
[1]
Tries:
Willie Wolfgramm
Una Taufa
Jimmy Veikoso
Salesi Finau
Goals:
Asa Amone (4/5)
Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 8,083
Referee: David Campbell  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Zealand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tonga
FB 1   Matthew Ridge (c)
RW 2   Sean Hoppe
RC 3   Richie Blackmore
LC 4   Ruben Wiki
LW 5   Richie Barnett
FE 6   Gene Ngamu
HB 7   Stacey Jones
PR 8   Quentin Pongia
HK 9   Syd Eru
PR 10   Jason Lowrie
SR 11   Tony Iro
SR 12   Stephen Kearney
LF 13   Tony Kemp
Substitutions:
IC 14   Henry Paul
IC 15   Hitro Okesene
IC 16   Kevin Iro
IC 17   Mark Horo
Coach:
  Frank Endacott
FB 1 Tevita Vaikona
RW 2 Una Taufa
RC 3 Taukolo Tonga
LC 4 Asa Amone
LW 5 Jimmy Veikoso
FE 6 Phil Howlett
HB 7 Willie Wolfgramm
PR 8 Martin Masella
HK 9 Duane Mann (c)
PR 10 Liuaki Hansen
SR 11 George Mann
SR 12 Solomon Haumono
LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil
Substitutions:
IC 14 Salesi Finau
IC 15 Talite Liava'a
IC 16
IC 17
Coach:
  Mike McClennan

Papua New Guinea vs Tonga

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Tonga continued their good form to lead Papua New Guinea 20–0 at half time. However, the Kumuls came alive in the second half to pull out a 28–all draw.

10 October 1995
Papua New Guinea   28 – 28   Tonga
Tries:
Adrian Lam
Elias Paiyo
David Buko
Stanley Gene
Lucas Solbat
Goals:
Elias Paiyo (4)
[2]
Tries:
Awen Guttenbeil (2)
Phil Howlett
Willie Wolfgramm
Tauʻalupe Liku
Una Taufa
Goals:
Asa Amone (2)
The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull
Attendance: 5,121
Referee: Claude Alba  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Papua New Guinea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tonga
FB 1 David Buko
RW 2 James Kops
RC 3 David Gomia
LC 4 John Okul
LW 5 Gideon Kouoru
FE 6 Stanley Gene
HB 7 Adrian Lam (c)
PR 8 Tuiyo Evei
HK 9 Elias Paiyo
PR 10 David Westley
SR 11 Max Tiri
SR 12 Nande Yer
LK 13 Bruce Mamando
Substitutions:
IC 14 Robert Tela
IC 15 Lucas Solbat
IC 16 Marcus Bai
IC 17 David Reeka
Coach:
  Joe Tokam
FB 1 Asa Amone
RW 2 Una Taufa
RC 3 Tevita Vaikona
LC 4 Talite Liava'a
LW 5 Jimmy Veikoso
FE 6 Phil Howlett
HB 7 Willie Wolfgramm
PR 8 Martin Masella
HK 9 Duane Mann (c)
PR 10 Liuaki Hansen
SR 11 George Mann
SR 12 Solomon Haumono
LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil
Substitutions:
IC 14 Salesi Finau
IC 15 Tauʻalupe Liku
IC 16 Taukolo Tonga
IC 17
Coach:
  Mike McClennan

New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea

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New Zealand finally showed some good form with a 22–6 win over a game Papua New Guinea at Knowsley Road. The Kiwis lost first choice hooker Syd Eru before the game after he failed a drug test. The New Zealand team doctor confirmed the banned substance was part of an over the counter cough medicine Eru had taken for a cold, but the ban stood and he was out for the rest of the tournament. He was replaced at hooker by Gary Freeman playing his 45th and last test for New Zealand.

13 October 1995
New Zealand   22 – 6   Papua New Guinea
Tries:
Matthew Ridge
Richie Blackmore
Sean Hoppe
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (4)
Gene Ngamu (1)
[3]
Tries:
Marcus Bai


Goals:
Elias Paiyo (1/2)
Knowsley Road, St Helens
Attendance: 8,679
Referee: Stuart Cummings  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New Zealand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Papua New Guinea
FB 1   Matthew Ridge (c)
RW 2   Sean Hoppe
RC 3   Richie Blackmore
LC 4   Ruben Wiki
LW 5   Jason Williams
FE 6   Henry Paul
HB 7   Stacey Jones
PR 8   Quentin Pongia
HK 9   Gary Freeman
PR 10   Jason Lowrie
SR 11   Stephen Kearney
SR 12   Mark Horo
LF 13   Tony Kemp
Substitutions:
IC 14   Gene Ngamu
IC 15   Hitro Okesene
IC 16   Kevin Iro
IC 17   Tony Iro
Coach:
  Frank Endacott
FB 1 David Buko
RW 2 James Kops
RC 3 David Gomia
LC 4 John Okul
LW 5 Gideon Kouoru
FE 6 Stanley Gene
HB 7 Adrian Lam (c)
PR 8 Nande Yer
HK 9 Elias Paiyo
PR 10 David Westley
SR 11 Max Tiri
SR 12 Michael Angara
LK 13 Bruce Mamando
Substitutions:
IC 14 Lucas Solbat
IC 15 Marcus Bai
IC 16 Ben Biri
IC 17
Coach:
  Joe Tokam

References

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