St Kilda’s International Scholarship Holder played on PNG’s best forward and did an excellent job, but his efforts were ultimately in vain as the Kiwis went down by 47 points at Royal Park.
PNG leapt out of the blocks, piling on four goals to New Zealand’s none in the first term despite kicking into a significant breeze.
The Papua New Guinean’s continued to dominate in the second term when they had the wind, before the Kiwis mounted a comeback and even came within three goals during the third term.
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Yet ultimately the slow start was New Zealand’s undoing, with PNG running away with the contest in the final quarter.
Comprehensive victories over Sweden, the USA and China in the group stage positioned the Kiwis as strong favourites heading into the preliminary final clash, but PNG found a way to physically overpower Baker-Thomas and his teammates in an upset result.
“The first quarter was a real shock to the system,” St Kilda assistant Paul Hudson said.
“From then on it was always going to be hard, although Joe [Baker-Thomas] did play well at centre-half-back.”
PNG will meet Ireland in the Grand Final on Saturday evening as the curtain raiser to the Geelong vs Hawthorn clash at the MCG, while New Zealand will battle it out with South Africa for third place honours on Friday at Royal Park.
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Joe Baker-Thomas and his teammates perform the Haka ahead of St Kilda's clash with China at Linen House Centre last week.
PNG: 4.0 6.0 7.3 12.3 (75)
New Zealand: 0.0 2.2 4.2 4.4 (28)
Goal kickers
PNG: Pirika 3, Ikupu 2, Soong , Siwee, Simon, Beno, Aisi, Gavuri, Yogomin
New Zealand: Inglis 2, Morton , Mundell
Best players
PNG: Ikupu, James Lavai, Peni, Simon, Namete, Gavuri
New Zealand: Howison, Baker-Thomas, Boyce, Millerm Harris, Inglis
