The 2022 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship commenced on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Auckland when Samoa face Tonga at 1pm followed by Fiji and Papua New Guinea at 3:30pm both games played at Massey Park, Papakura.
The opening match of the 2022 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship went down to the wire, with the final play of the game, deciding the outcome between these two rivals.
Samoa dominated possession early on, camping in Tonga’s 22, but it was the Fuifuilupe captain, Mele Hufanga, who opened the scoring four minutes in, running 75 metres down the sideline to give Tonga a 5-0 lead.
The next 10 minutes were filled with many errors and penalties, with the two sides not having played for over two years.
Samoa capitalised on field position and evened up the score in the 18th minute through Utu Atonio, before eventually taking the lead with 10 minutes remaining when Cassie Siataga converted a penalty.
Five minutes later, the Manusina were back pressuring the line, winning a penalty directly in front. Captain Sui Tauaua Pauaraisa opted for a scrum, which resulted in Michelle Curry scoring in the corner.
Minutes later the same situation arose but instead, Tauaua Pauaraisa’s quick tap was sent wide and Atonio scored her second to finish the half, Samoa leading Tonga 18-5.
Momentum switched in the second half with Tonga winning more of the ball. Fifteen minutes into the second, a quick tap from a penalty allowed the Fuifuilupe to barge into the 22, with an offload to Hufanga resulting in a second try after she broke the tackle of Siataga and put Curry on the ground with a massive fend. Shonte Toa converted the match’s first try to narrow Samoa’s lead to six.
Substitute Sima Hala scored Tonga’s second try of the half with 20 minutes remaining, but the wind caught Toa’s conversion to leave the Fuifuilupe trailing by one.
A knock-on from Tonga with a minute remaining seemed to seal it for Manusina, especially after Vi’i Fanene broke four tackles in the 22, but a knock-on from Kayla Clark five metres out, seconds before the siren gifted Tonga one last chance.
However, after winning the scrum, Malia Tova looked to kick the ball downfield but misfired, sending the ball straight into France Bloomfield who crossed over the line to seal Samoa’s victory.
Samoa (25) Tries: Atonio (2), Curry, Bloomfield Conversions: Siataga Penalty Goals: Siataga Tonga (17) Tries: Hufanga (2), Hala Conversions: Toa
The Fijiana started their Oceania title quest in a dominating fashion, breaking multiple world records in the process.
Fiji scored 152 points, which surpassed the women’s record set by the Netherlands vs Denmark in 2004 (141-3) and the All Blacks’ total of 146 against Japan in 1995. The 152-point margin also passed the Wallabies’ 142-point win against Namibia at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The team scored 24 tries (another record) with 17 of the 23 players getting on the scoresheet.
Though Fiji started with a knocked on off the kick-off, they immediately showed their dominance, winning the scrum against the feed. Despite desperate goal-line defence, an error from Papua New Guinea gave the ball back to Fiji and prop Mereoni Vonosere barged over the line less than two minutes in.
Fiji would go on to score five more tries in the next 15 minutes, while Papua New Guinea only touched the ball three times. It was not until the 36th minute that the Cassowaries won a scrum and were able to piece together multiple phases before knocking on shortly later.
The first half ended 76-0, with Fiji scoring 12 tries. Vitalina Naikore led the team in scoring with 26 points, converting six tries and scoring two of her own.
It took less than three minutes for Fiji to score again after the half time with Ilisapeci Delaiwau scoring her first of four tries. Two minutes later Koloa Lomai secured her hat-trick.
Things got worse for Papua New Guinea in the 49th minute when Lynette Davani was sent off for a professional foul and Fiji scored four more tries with the numerical advantage.
Fiji scored four more tries in the last 20 minutes with Talei Kidd scoring her second try in the final minute to surpass the 150-point mark.
Fiji (152) Tries: Delaiwau (4), Lomani (3), Kidd (2), Naikore (2), Coates, Laqeretabua, Matarugu, Milinia, Nabura, Ofakimalino, Rokouono, Rubuti, Senikarivi, Tagabale, Vasuturaga, Vonosere, Waisega Conversions: Naikore (8), Vosadrau (7), Rokouono
Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship Saturday 9 July 2022 Samoa 25 def Tonga 17 Fiji 152 def Papua New Guinea 0
Wednesday 13 July 2022 Samoa v Papua New Guinea: Navigation Stadium, Pukekohe - Kick off 5pm Fiji v Tonga: Navigation Stadium, Pukekohe - Kick off 7pm
Sunday 17 July 2022 Tonga v Papua New Guinea: Massey Park, Papakura - Kick off 1pm Fiji v Samoa: Massey Park, Papakura - Kick off 3:30pm *All times local
