Sunday 12 November 2017 09:00, UK
Papua New Guinea thrashed the United States 64-0 to top World Cup Group C and secure a quarter-final against England in Melbourne, next Sunday.
The Kumuls ran in 11 tries, three of them from winger Justin Olam, for a predictable victory that snuffed out the faint hopes of Ireland and delighted a third successive full house of 15,000 at the national stadium in Port Moresby.
It was another harsh lesson for a United States team coached by Leeds' Grand Final-winning boss Brian McDermott, but consisted largely of part-time domestic players who have conceded 168 points in their three matches.
Lachlan Lam, the 19-year-old son of former Wigan and PNG scrum-half Adrian Lam, made a fairy-tale debut for Papua New Guinea, scoring the first try on eight minutes and adding another before the first water break on 20 minutes, while Rhyse Martin kicked 10 goals from 11 attempts.
