PNG, Italy, Fiji win at Rugby League World Cup

SYDNEY: Watson Boas scored two minutes from full time to clinch Papua New Guinea’s 14-6 win over Ireland at the Rugby League World Cup yesterday, likely propelling the Kumuls into the quarterfinals with co-hosts Australia and New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea held a two-point lead for 52 minutes before Boas pounced on a dropped pass in the Ireland backline, kicked through and won the race to the ball to score. The win kept Papua New Guinea unbeaten after two rounds and atop Group C from which only one team will progress to the playoffs, likely to face England in the quarterfinals.

Italy and Fiji kept their playoff hopes alive with emphatic wins in Group D and will meet on Friday to decide which team progresses from that group. The Italians have a 1-1 record after their 42-6 win over the United States while Fiji are unbeaten after a record 72-6 win over hapless Wales. Wales was beaten 50-4 by Papua New Guinea in its opening match. Fiji scored eight tries to lead 42-6 at halftime and another six in the second half. Suliasi Vunivalu touched down three times and Taane Milne and Viliame Kikau scored twice.

Milne was man of the match with three line breaks and six off loads but NRL star Jarryd Hayne was also influential, scoring the first try of the second half and creating several others. Fiji ripped apart the Wales defense with 15 line breaks and 18 offloads. “Our forwards really stepped up and made it easy for the boys out wide,” said Milne who was named man of the match. “We’ve still got a bit to work on but we’ll focus on Italy now.”—AP