England Knights head coach Paul Anderson saluted his teamâs resilience after they battled to a 16-12 win in the first of their two internationals against Papua New Guinea in Lae today.
The Knights took a 16-8 half-time lead through tries from Leedsâs Liam Sutcliffe, Warringtonâs Tom Lineham and Wigans Tom Davies, but ultimately it was two conversions from Linehamâs Wolves team-mate Dec Patton that allowed them to hold off a Kumuls team who also scored three tries.
âWe probably made it hard work for ourselves,â said Anderson. âBut credit to the boys, they found a way to win the game. We were on the back foot for probably 90% of that second half, and they found a way to grind themselves out.
âThe way we competed and the effort was second to none. We missed a lot of opportunities, but thereâs some mitigating factors in that. The heat, the humidity, everything that goes around playing in PNG - which is everything we wanted from this.
âIâve had two of the older players today whoâve thanked me for bringing us, for this experience â thatâs more than the football side of things, itâs life experience. We kept talking about it, and itâs definitely there - Lae has delivered everything we expected.â
Anderson praised Jack Hughes, the Warrington forward who is captaining the squad, and also Matty Lees, the St Helens prop who was one of the nominees for Super Leagueâs Young Player of the Year.
âThe captain led from the front, thatâs one of the big things,â he added.
âBut Matty Lees has taken out the playersâ player award. He gave a couple of penalties away but I donât mind that, he did that in the right way, because heâs got a level of intimidation about him.
âHeâs only 20 and heâs just got man of the match in an England Knights international against a near-enough full strength Papua New Guinea team. Heâs a champion player and I like what he brings. Heâs still got some things to fix up, but this trip is going to do him a lot of good.â
The Knights were the first of three England teams playing in three different countries today, with England women taking on France at Carcassonne at 2pm, and the men facing New Zealand in the first of their three-Test series at Hullâs KCOM Stadium from 230pm.
The Knights play a second match against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby next weekend.
http://www.rugby-league.com/article/538 ... win-in-png
ANDERSON CREDITS KNIGHTS AFTER FIRST TEST WIN IN PNG
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ANDERSON CREDITS KNIGHTS AFTER FIRST TEST WIN IN PNG
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
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- Posts: 35725
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
- Location: Wigan
- Contact:
Re: ANDERSON CREDITS KNIGHTS AFTER FIRST TEST WIN IN PNG
Sorry about all the weird letters! ????
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Re: ANDERSON CREDITS KNIGHTS AFTER FIRST TEST WIN IN PNG
No problem comrade Josie.josie andrews wrote:Sorry about all the weird letters! ????
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- Posts: 35725
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
- Location: Wigan
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Re: ANDERSON CREDITS KNIGHTS AFTER FIRST TEST WIN IN PNG
thegimble wrote:No problem comrade Josie.josie andrews wrote:Sorry about all the weird letters! ????
???????? I think Mike knows about it ????????
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan