Big wins for Fiji & Samoa in Oceania Champs

Reports: World Rugby

Defending champions Fiji and Samoa will meet to determine the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship 2018 winners on Saturday after both enjoyed emphatic victories over Papua New Guinea and Tonga respectively in the second round of matches on Tuesday.

Hosts Fiji ran out 96-0 winners over Papua New Guinea in the day's second match at Churchill Park in Lautoka after Samoa had kicked off proceedings with a 68-7 defeat of Tonga.

Samoa 68 Tonga 7

Tonga enjoyed the perfect start when prop Mele 'Akuila touched down for the opening try in the third minute, but Samoa responded with five first-half tries to lead 27-7 going into half-time.

Full-back Soteria Pulumu, centres Billy-Jean Ale and Jo Falesita and a brace from winger Lumepa Maiava all crossed the line for Manusina with Tonga unable to withstand the waves of attack that came at them.

Samoa maintained that intensity in the second half with Sieni Mose scored her side's sixth try in the 50th minute before fly-half Aiesha Smalley raced 60 metres to set up another try for flanker Marilyn Live.

Second-row Mary-Lee Sa'u and Mose both crossed while Tonga were a player down with Ilaisa'ane Fanguna in the sin-bin, but even when back to full complement Tonga were unable to stop the Samoan tide with Live, replacement Saelua Leaula and Smalley crossing for tries before the final whistle.

“It’s always a good battle against our Tongan sisters. We went away from our first game and worked with our rucks as our main focus throughout the whole game,” Samoa captain Sui Pauraisa said afterwards.

Tonga captain Va'inga Moimoi was pleased that her team fought to the end and continued to learn from their experiences.

“In the beginning we were strong but they got to us in the end but we fought as we got towards the end,” Moimoi said. “I’m very proud of each of my team members as they never gave up till the end and I’m really just happy that we’re learning something in every game.”

Scorers

Samoa:Tries:Marilyn Live 2; Mepa Maiava 2; Sieni Mose 2; Lee Sa'u 1; Aiesha Smalley 1; Billy-Jean Ale 1; Josephine Falesita 1; Soteria Pulumu 1; Saelua Vanessa Leaula 1.Conversions:Sieni Mose 4

Tonga:Tries: Mele 'Akuila 1.Conversions: 'Ema Potaufa 1

Teams

Samoa:1 Cynthia Cyndya Apineru; 2 Inga Timani; 3 Jacqui Aiono; 4 Lee Sa'u; 5 Taylah Chanel Hodson-Tomokino; 6 Marilyn Live; 7 Sui (C) Pauaraisa; 8 Nina Foaese; 9 Alafou Nerell Fatu; 10 Aiesha Smalley; 11 Mepa Maiava; 12 Billy-Jean Ale; 13 Josephine Falesita; 14 Sieni Mose; 15 Soteria Pulumu; 16 Hayley Tiute Pilato; 17 Ruth Asiolefolasa Vae; 18 Lorina Papali'i; 19 Brittany Malele Le'au'anae; 20 Moega Wright; 21 Saelua Vanessa Leaula; 22 Tui Too; 23 Osooso Feaunati

Tonga:1 Lesieli Fisilau; 2 Pesalini He'ehau; 3 Mele 'Akuila; 4 Nina 'Alofaki; 5 Patsy Manuofetoa; 6 Susana Tupou; 7 Ruby Eva Tangulu; 8 Va'inga (C) Moimoi; 9 Shirley Lisa Mailangi; 10 'Ema Potaufa; 11 Vikafai'ana Lelea; 12 Na'a Kaufusi; 13 Judith Ann Pita; 14 Tolofi Kalotia Noelani Takitaki; 15 Lita Fuikefu; 16 Leslie Mavis Mapa; 17 Ivamere Fatafehi; 18 Mo'unga Mohetau; 19 Meleane Fifita; 20 Lanuola Takau; 21 'Ilaisaane Fanguna; 22 Lu'isa Sikata Pita; 23 Sharon Vailea

Fiji 96 Papua New Guinea 0 (HT: 53-0)

A Fijiana side featuring a number of their sevens stars proved too strong for Papua New Guinea, their display of attacking rugby leading to 13 tries being scored in a 96-0 victory.

Luisa Tisolo opened the scoring after only 32 seconds with prop Lailanie Burnes, number eight Karalaini Naisewa, winger Salote Vakaturi, flanker Jiowana Sauto and prop Makereta Tunidau following her across the line in the opening half hour.

Tisolo then grabbed her second before flanker Lavenia Tinai and Sauto crossed to make it 53-0 at half-time.

Captain Rusila Nagasau got the scoreboard moving again within a minute of the restart with Tima Ravisa (2), fly-half Tokasa Seniyasi, replacement Taraivini Adriraba, former sevens captain Ana Maria Roqica and a penalty try completed the scoring.

Fijiana's attacking rugby meant that Papua New Guinea were unable to find space and have time on the ball to get it into the hands of their fast wingers as they had against Samoa on day one.

Scorers

Fiji:Tries:Jiowana Sauto 2; Luisa Basei Tisolo 2; Timaima Ravisa 2; Lailanie Burnes 1; Makereta Tunidau 1; Lavenia Tinai 1; Karalaini Naisewa 1; Ana Maria Roqica 1; Tokasa Seniyasi 1; Rusila Nagasau 1; Salote Vakaturi 1; Taraivini Adiraba 1.Conversions: Tokasa Seniyasi 5; Luisa Basei Tisolo 2

Teams

Fiji:1 Lailanie Burnes; 2 Litia Marama; 3 Makereta Tunidau; 4 Laisa Taga; 5 Torika Semo; 6 Jiowana Sauto; 7 Lavenia Tinai; 8 Karalaini Naisewa; 9 Ana Maria Roqica; 10 Tokasa Seniyasi; 24 Luisa Basei Tisolo; 12 Mereani Moceituba; 13 Rusila (C) Nagasau; 14 Salote Vakaturi; 15 Timaima Ravisa; 16 Makelesi Lalabalavu; 27 Adi Tokasa Raikoso; 18 Tuliana Rokosugu; 19 Esita Kotoisuva; 26 Mere Moto; 21 Eleina Mcdonald; 22 Taraivini Adiraba; 23 Salote Halofaki

Papua New Guinea:1 Lorraine Pomat; 2 Jane Buku; 3 Lydia Korikai ; 4 Norah Wartovo; 5 Shelanne Kopi; 6 Bibiana Paloa; 7 Geua Larry; 8 Fatima Rama; 9 Taiva Lavai; 10 Kymlie Rapilla; 11 Jill Yallon; 12 Debbie (C) Kaore; 13 Vero Waula; 14 Mala Mark; 15 Helen Abau; 24 Melisa Thomas; 17 Christine Wanma; 18 Hannah Singut; 19 Mary Lavari; 20 Rusila Oki; 21 Zafira Pangkatana; 22 Margaret Naua; 23 Robyn Ravu