Photo: Rugby League World Cup official website
Orchids to make World Cup semis debut, Pukpuks edge Solomons in Oceania final; and a round up of 7s and 15s weekend action
PNG Orchids blitz Brazil to secure semi spot
Papua New Guinea are through to the women's Rugby League World Cup knockout stage for the first time, after a commanding second-half performance saw them down Brazil 70-0.
Powerhouse centre Belinda Gwasamun ran in four tries on a night in which she broke 18 tackles and clocked 282 metres in yardage gained.
Brazil stuck with the Orchids in the first half to trail just 18-0, but had no answer for what happened over the ensuing 40 minutes.
The Orchids crossed for 10 tries in the second half for 52 points.
With their passage to the knockout stages secure, the Orchids will now close out group play with a clash against hosts England, which will decide who claims top spot out of Group A.
"Keeping them to zero was the main objective at half-time. They executed quite well and very happy for them. Our best team will go on the paddock [against England]," said Papua New Guinea coach Ben Jeffries.
Brave Solomons edged by PNG Pukpuk
A brave Solomon Islands side who led most of the game lost to PNG Pukpuk 22-18 in the Oceania Rugby Championship.
Pukpuk only scored the winning try in the final ten minutes and held on against a determined Solomon side to win the match in Port Moresby.
Solomon plays Vanuatu in its final match. Vanuatu had already lost to PNG in the tournament's opener.
Australia break Fiji hearts to win Hong Kong Sevens
Australia clinched a thrilling final 20-17 to claim the Hong Kong Sevens crown and bring to an end Fiji's dominance that had seen them take the last five titles in Hong Kong.
A pulsating end-to-end final played in an electrifying atmosphere was settled in the final minute when Nathan Lawson scored in the corner.
It had been 1,308 days since the last final was played in Hong Kong back in 2019, and the highly anticipated comeback edition certainly made up for lost time with a classic encounter.
Double Olympic champions Fiji led through tries from Josua Vakurinabili and a pair from Waisea Nacuqu, but Australia hit back through Henry Hutchison, twice, and Tim Clements before Lawson sealed the comeback victory to continue the fantastic form which saw them clinch the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title
France took bronze after seeing off Samoa 19-17 thanks to a pair of tries from Stephen Parez Edo Martin and one from tournament top try scorer Aaron Grandidier.
Fiji's route to the final saw them squeeze past Commonwealth champions South Africa 12-7 with tries from Joseva Talacolo and Jeremaia Matana to clinch in a tense quarter-final, before overcoming Samoa 19-7 in the semi-final, with two scores from Filipe Sauturaga and one from Joseva Talacolo.
Fiji had progressed through their pool on Friday and Saturday with free-scoring wins over Japan (59-12), Spain (35-21) and the USA (24-0).
Scotland 15s too good for Fiji
Scotland saw off Fiji 28-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday local time in unconvincing fashion.
George Turner's try gave Scotland an early lead but the visitors hit back with two of their own before the hosts managed to lead 14-12 at the interval.
Tries either side of half-time from Adam Hastings and Duhan van der Merwe gave Scotland breathing space before replacement Ben White crossed late on.
Fiji suffered an early setback on Saturday when debutant Ratu Rotuisolia was sin-binned.
Meanwhile, six-try Italy sweep aside Samoa 49-17 in their opening Autumn Test in Padua.
