The Papua New Guinea LNG Kumuls displayed a spectacular victory in the 2025 Pacific Bowl Championship, delivering a decisive 50-18 at the Santos National Football Stadium.

Backed by a courageous home crowd, the opening whistle erupted a momentum of tries in the first half by the Kumuls.

Despite Bati's competitive attempt to recover from a first-half margin scoreboard, the Kumuls played with an intensity that Bati simply could not match. The home side ran in four unanswered tries in a blistering 20-minute period to stun the visitors. Morea Morea opened the floodgates with the first try, quickly followed by scores from the dynamic Edwin Ipape, the powerful Nene Macdonald, and a clinical finish from captain Rhyse Martin.

The onslaught continued as Cooper Bai crossed to extend the lead, with the Skipper himself maintaining a perfect kicking record by converting all five first-half tries. The Kumuls went into the sheds with a commanding 30-point lead, while Fiji’s only first-half response was a solitary try to Kitione Kautoga, converted by Brandon Wakeham.

Any hopes of a Fijian fightback were quickly eliminated in the second half. The Kumuls picked up right where they left off, with Nixon Putt, Dudley Dotoi, and Robert Mathias all powering over the line to further extend the PNG lead. Martin’s boot remained consistent, adding the extras to all three tries.

The Fiji Bati showed flashes of their flair, with Kitione Kautoga grabbing his second try of the afternoon and further consolation scores coming from Solomone Saukuru and Semi Valemei. However, their failed conversions continued, managing only one successful from their four tries, which starkly contrasted the flawless performance of their opponents.

To cap off a near-perfect evening for the home side, captain Rhyse Martin from 40 metres slotted a penalty goal in the final minute, bringing up the half-century mark and finishing the game with a personal haul of 22 points from nine successful kicks and a try.

This resounding victory, built on a dominant forward pack and clinical finishing, sends a powerful statement in the Pacific Championship. The PNG Kumuls have not only secured a vital win but have done so in a style that will make them a feared contender as the tournament progresses.