Fiji trounce Wales
JARRYD Hayne set a new record for Rugby League World Cup tries as Fiji outplayed Wales 72-6 to close in on the quarterfinals along with the Papua New Guinea Kumuls yesterday.
The NRL superstar scored one of Fiji Bati’s 14 tries to swamp the hapless Welshmen in Townsville to top Pool D with their second emphatic win of the tournament after smashing the United States 58-12 in their opening match.
Hayne has now scored a record 14 World Cup tries, eclipsing Australians Bob Fulton and Billy Slater.
It proved a one-sided procession as the Fijians overwhelmed Wales to hold a match-winning 42-6 advantage at half-time.
It got little better in the second term with Fiji adding 30 more points and keeping the Welshmen pointless.
Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored a hat-trick of tries to follow up his opening round brace for five tries in the tournament.
Fiji finish up their pool action against Italy in Canberra on Friday, while Wales played their last match against Ireland in Perth yesterday.
The PNG Kumuls overcame a spirited Ireland 14-6 in steamy Port Moresby to continue their unbeaten start to the World Cup and all but book their spot in the last eight.
Kumuls winger Garry Lo was the difference, running for a game-high 200m, breaking 15 tackles and scoring a try.
His performance was a highlight in an error-riddled contest, with both sides pushing the pass and struggling to execute when it mattered most.
Leading 8-6 at half-time, PNG could not put the game away and it left the door open for an unlikely Irish victory.
But the match-clinching try came from an error, with Watson Boas toeing forward a wayward Ireland pass before regathering and scoring under the posts with two minutes to go.
Italy beat the US 46-0 at Townsville, laying on seven tries while kicker Josh Mantellato nailed seven conversion attempts.
NSW State of Origin fullback James Tedesco and hooker Joseph Tramontana both scored doubles, as Italy bounced back from their loss to Ireland last week. — AFP