FIJI 40 PAPUA NEW GUINEA 4
TOM SMITH, Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Saturday

TAHLIA MARSHALL bagged three tries as Fiji overcame Papua New Guinea on their own turf to put one foot in the semi-finals.

Brought off the bench for Maria Paseka on game-day eve, Marshall crossed moments before half-time to send the Bulikula to the sheds leading 30-4.

The Brisbane Tigers winger then scored twice within ten minutes of the restart to complete her hat-trick and give her team a 40-4 lead they sat on for the rest of the game.

Canberra centre Isabella Waterman, playing inside Marshall, was also outstanding, while centre partner and Sydney Roosters live-wire Taina Naividi was a constant headache for the Orchids’ defence.

With New Zealand expected to top Group B and France making up the numbers, this match loomed as a decider of the second knock-out berth.

And the Fijians did the job easily in the Port Moresby heat.

These teams carried strong form into their second game of the tournament.

The Bulikula nearly produced a mammoth boil-over of the New Zealanders in Newcastle on Sunday.

Coach Jone Wesele stuck with a very similar line-up, although shuffled a few pieces around the board before kick-off – including Marshall on the flank.

The Orchids had thrashed France on home soil, racking up twelve tries to one.

Coach Craig Sandercock – who British fans might remember from his stint in charge of Hull KR from 2012-14 – also stuck with a similar squad, but added Venesa Nakas and Belinda Gwasamun to his engine room.

After they delivered a spine-tingling Noqu Masu hymn before kick-off, the Fijians opened the scoring inside five minutes.

Naividi delivered a perfect pass to the unmarked Sienna Laing, who sped into the left corner.

The local fans were on their feet when Ua Ravu scooted over from dummy-half.

But that proved the Orchids’ only points of this lopsided contest.

Stand-off Luisa Yaranamua outmuscled a string of would-be tacklers to spark the Bulikula’s onslaught before the half-time break.

Naividi backed up a Lorren Ieli bust for a deserved four-pointer then Losana Lutu burrowed through three yellow jumpers for Fiji’s fourth.

Less than 90 seconds before the half-time hooter, Marshall found the whitewash for the first time, slipping past the cover defence of Tia Molo.

The Fijians’ tidal wave of momentum carried into the second half, and Marshall was the beneficiary.

First quick-thinking hooker Sereana Naitokatoka surged down the short side to send the slender winger into the left corner.

Then in the 45th minute, Marshall had her hat-trick, combining with the skilful Waterman on the inside.

The Port Moresby heat sapped both sides’ energy as the clock ticked down, with neither able to conjure a score in the remaining 25 minutes.

Both nations now travel to the Gold Coast to finish the group stage on Saturday.

The Bulikula will expect to beat France to make sure of their semi-final spot, while the Orchids would need to topple the mighty Kiwi Ferns to have a hope of progressing.

GAMESTAR: Tahlia Marshall posted a hat trick as the Fijian women silenced the Papua New Guinea crowd early.

GAMEBREAKER: Marshall’s third try in the right corner in the 45th minute gave the Bulikula well and truly enough points to defend for the rest of the second half.

MATCHFACTS

FIJI
1 Cassie Staples
5 Sienna Laing
3 Isabella Waterman
4 Taina Naividi
14 Tahlia Marshall
6 Luisa Yaranamua
7 Losana Lutu
8 Latisha Smythe
9 Sereana Naitokatoka
10 Leilani Ahsam
11 Elizabeth Naleba
17 Nanise Vakacavu
13 Talei Holmes
Subs (all used)
15 Teaghan Hartigan
16 Lorren Ieli
18 Naomi Tegu
22 Abigayle Sekitoga

Tries: Laing (5), Yaranamua (20), Naividi (25), Lutu (31), Marshall (34, 41, 45)
Goals: Naitokatoka 2/2, Yaranamua 4/5

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
1 Anika Butler
2 Ivania Wong
3 Relna Wuruki-Hosea
4 Tia Molo
5 Naomi Kelly
6 Fleur Ginn
7 Cynthiah Peters
8 Elsie Albert
9 Ua Ravu
16 Jenny David
12 Shellie Long
22 Belinda Gwasamun
13 Emily Veivers
Subs (all used)
11 Vanesa Nakas
15 Essay Banu
17 India Seeto
18 Gemma Walker

Tries: Ravu (9)
Goals: Veivers 0/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 18-4, 24-4, 30-4; 34-4, 40-4

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Women of the Match
Fiji: Tahlia Marshall; Papua New Guinea: Elsie Albert

Penalty count: 7-5
Half-time: 30-4
Referee: Kasey Badger