Pacific Games

However, according to PGC Executive Director Andrew Minogue there’s still some work and convincing to do before it fully becomes a recognised games for the region like all other continents.

“We have Australia and New Zealand here and some of the sport are really using the Games now to qualify for the Olympics or World Championships and we have to deliver to a certain standard,” said Minogue.

A bumper crowd turned up to watch the match with a high number of Guam supporters.

Fiji got off to a good start leading in the first quarter 17-15 but Guam bounced back in the second quarter to take the lead by 10 points at half time, 36-26.

Guam dominated the rest of the game with three pointers coming from Jesus Cruz taking Guam to 51-44 at the end of the third quarter.

Both teams put up a great challenge and entertained the crowd in the final quarter as the countdown began to full time.

This was possible after Solomon Islands defeated Nauru late yesterday.

PNG will now take on Tahiti.

The teams are warming up for the match at the PNG Power Dome.

The crowd is building up fast to watch this match.

Tahiti took out gold at the 2011 Games.           

PNG will be banking on key players Betty Angula, Nesta Sape and Captain Marcia Muri.

Papua New Guinea meanwhile were shadowed by their opponents grabbing bronze in the two events they competed in.

Alfred Mel and Vagi Henry competed in the 105kg and +120kg finishing third respectively.

Roy Detabena and Jezza Uepa representing Nauru won gold in the 93kg and +120kg respectively. 

While in the 93kg division Ofisa Ofisa of Samoa won the gold and Telupe Isefa of Tuvalu won gold in the 120kg.

In the other final session results, 93kg silver went to Raboe Roland (Nauru) and Teotahi Hinau (Tahiti) got bronze.

Rew scored the first points of the game to get the crowd up on their feet roaring as he shrugged off several defenders to score.

The Solomon Islanders responded straight away via Solly Seuika to score out wide.

A successful conversion put his team in front.

Some razzle dazzle rugby saw Rew grab his second score of the match right after the half time siren sounded. With the kick in, the score was 12-7 at the break.

The second half belonged to PNG as two more tries went to Arthur Clement and Butler Morris just on full time.

The country's sports federation says its lack of representation is down to it not having had enough time to prepare for the games, and its athletes not being available.

Tokelau's national legal advisor Lise Suveinakama says the blunder will prove a valuable lesson for the nation, which has a population of about 1400.

New Caledonia are second and Samoa and Fiji equal third on the overall medal count.

Ryan Pini's third gold medal was the pick of the home performances on a day where Para athletes and a host of smaller nations had their moment in the spotlight.

Fast swimmer Lara Grangeon set another new record in the 400m freestyle of 4:20:40 sec,  taking out gold.

The previous record was 4:28:32 sec that was also set by Lara. This was the 19th record set in this Pacific Games.

Charlotte Robin got the bronze in the 400m freestyle after clocking in at 4:41:97 sec behind silver medalist Matelita Buadromo of Fiji.

Another Games record of 1:03:50 sec in the 100m backstroke was broken by Emma Terebo of New Caledonia. Emma set a new record of 1:02:60 in this event to win gold.

Savannah took out bronze in the 50m breaststroke tonight clocking in at 34.60 sec.

New Caledonia's Adeline Williams got gold clock with a  32.61 sec time  and Pilar Shimiziu of Guam got silver with a time of 33.35 sec.

Savannah also grabbed bronze in the 100m breaststroke yesterday.

She was presented with her medal by her father PNG Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko.

Itte Detenamo from the tiny Pacific Island of Nauru, won the three gold medals on offer in the +105kg division.

The super heavyweight division ended the weightlifting competition of the XV Pacific Games.

Detenamo has now won that weight division for the third consecutive time.

The Nauruan won the snatch with a weight of 167kg, clean and jerk lift of 203kg and the overall total of 370kg.

The snatch category silver  medal went to Lauititi Lui of Samoa with a lift of 160kg and Andrius Barakauskas of New Zealand won bronze lifting the bar at 145kg.