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 main WDL Q n points 2 NZL NZL TON TON PNG PNG 2 0 0 47 30 0 1 1 52 53 0 1 1 34 50 #ccffcc Advanced to knockout stage A complete RLWC 1995: Australia RLIF New Zealand vs Tonga 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 NZL 25 – 24 TON 1995 RLWC - New Zealand vs Tonga Tries: Richie Blackmore (2) Sean Hoppe Tony Kemp Hitro Okesene Goals: Matthew Ridge (2/5) Field Goals: Matthew Ridge (1) Tries: Willie Wolfgramm Una Taufa Jimmy Veikoso Salesi Finau Goals: Asa Amone (4/5) Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington 8,083 David Campbell ENG _kiwis95 _kiwis95 _whiteborder _collarwhite _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 New Zealand _Tonga1995RLWC _Tonga1995RLWC _Tonga1995RLWC _hoops_red FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FFFFFF Tonga FB 1 Matthew Ridge (c)RW 2 Sean HoppeRC 3 Richie BlackmoreLC 4 Ruben WikiLW 5 Richie BarnettFE 6 Gene NgamuHB 7 Stacey JonesPR 8 Quentin PongiaHK 9 Syd EruPR 10 Jason LowrieSR 11 Tony IroSR 12 Stephen KearneyLF 13 Tony KempSubstitutions:IC 14 Henry PaulIC 15 Hitro OkeseneIC 16 Kevin IroIC 17 Mark HoroCoach:NZL Frank Endacott FB 1Asa AmoneRW 2Una TaufaRC 3Tevita VaikonaLC 4Phil HowlettLW 5Jimmy VeikosoFE 6Angelo DymockHB 7Willie WolfgrammPR 8Martin MasellaHK 9Duane Mann (c)PR 10Liuaki HansenSR 11George MannSR 12Solomon HaumonoLK 13Awen GuttenbeilSubstitutions:IC 14Salesi FinauIC 15Talite Liava'aIC 16Luke LeiluaIC 17Taukolo TongaCoach:NZL Mike McClennan Papua New Guinea vs Tonga 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 PNG 28 – 28 TON 1995 RLWC - Papua New Guinea vs Tonga Tries: Adrian Lam Elias Paiyo David Buko Stanley Gene Lucas Solbat Goals: Elias Paiyo (4) Tries: Awen Guttenbeil (2) Phil Howlett Willie Wolfgramm Tauʻalupe Liku Una Taufa Goals: Asa Amone (2) The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull 5,121 Claude Alba FRA _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 FF0000 000000 Papua New Guinea _Tonga1995RLWC _Tonga1995RLWC _Tonga1995RLWC _hoops_red FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FFFFFF Tonga FB 1David BukoRW 2James KopsRC 3David GomiaLC 4John OkulLW 5Joshua KouoruFE 6Stanley GeneHB 7Adrian Lam (c)PR 8Tuiyo EveiHK 9Elias PaiyoPR 10David WestleySR 11Max TiriSR 12Nande YerLK 13Bruce MamandoSubstitutions:IC 14Robert TelaIC 15Lucas SolbatIC 16Marcus BaiIC 17David ReekaCoach:PNG Joe Tokam FB 1Asa AmoneRW 2Una TaufaRC 3Tevita VaikonaLC 4Talite Liava'aLW 5Jimmy VeikosoFE 6Phil HowlettHB 7Willie WolfgrammPR 8Martin MasellaHK 9Duane Mann (c)PR 10Liuaki HansenSR 11George MannSR 12Solomon HaumonoLK 13Awen GuttenbeilSubstitutions:IC 14Salesi FinauIC 15Tauʻalupe LikuIC 16Taukolo TongaIC 17Coach:NZL Mike McClennan New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea 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 NZL 22 – 6 PNG 1995 RLWC - New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea Tries: Matthew Ridge Richie Blackmore Sean Hoppe Goals: Matthew Ridge (4) Gene Ngamu (1) Tries: Marcus Bai Goals: Elias Paiyo (1/2) Knowsley Road, St Helens 8,679 Stuart Cummings ENG _kiwis95 _kiwis95 _whiteborder _collarwhite _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 New Zealand _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC _PNG1995RLWC FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 FF0000 000000 Papua New Guinea FB 1 Matthew Ridge (c)RW 2 Sean HoppeRC 3 Richie BlackmoreLC 4 Ruben WikiLW 5 Jason WilliamsFE 6 Henry PaulHB 7 Stacey JonesPR 8 Quentin PongiaHK 9 Gary FreemanPR 10 Jason LowrieSR 11 Stephen KearneySR 12 Mark HoroLF 13 Tony KempSubstitutions:IC 14 Gene NgamuIC 15 Hitro OkeseneIC 16 Kevin IroIC 17 Tony IroCoach:NZL Frank Endacott FB 1David BukoRW 2James KopsRC 3David GomiaLC 4John OkulLW 5Joshua KouoruFE 6Stanley GeneHB 7Adrian Lam (c)PR 8Nande YerHK 9Elias PaiyoPR 10David WestleySR 11Max TiriSR 12Michael AngaraLK 13Bruce MamandoSubstitutions:IC 14Lucas SolbatIC 15Marcus BaiIC 16Ben BiriIC 17Coach:PNG Joe Tokam References External links 1995 World Cup audio highlights 1995 World Cup Final at rlphotos.com 1995 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au 1995 World Cup at rlif.com 1995 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk 1995 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com 1995 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk *