Check out what happened in round 3 of the Pacific Championships competition.
Review
The Kiwis and Jillaroos warmed up for their Pacific Cup Finals with wins at Eden Park. New Zealand will play Toa Samoa in the men’s Cup Final and Australia have a rematch with the Kiwi Ferns in the women’s Cup Final at CommBank Stadium next Sunday.
While Tonga needed to win by 18 points to make the Cup Final, the Kiwis blew those hopes away, leading 24-2 at the break (tries to Keano Kini, Dylan Brown, Casey McLean, and Matthew Timoko). Brown added a second try in the second half while Tonga missed 63 tackles in 80 minutes. It was a disappointing Pacific Championships for Tonga after making last year’s Cup Final, losing both games to Samoa and New Zealand (and with a -54 differential).
After a scoreless opening 30 minutes, Jessica Sergis gave the Jillaroos a 6-0 half-time lead against the Kiwi Ferns. Abbi Church extended it to 10 early in the second half, which was enough despite Annessa Biddle scoring for the Kiwi Ferns (with an 80-metre run) in the 50th minute.
The PNG Kumuls and the Tonga XIII both won their Pacific Bowl games at Santos National Football Stadium (Port Moresby).
The Kumuls secured their third straight Bowl title (also winning in 2023 and 2024) after beating Fiji Bati. Rhyse Martin finished with 22 points (a try and nine goals from nine). PNG led 30-0 after 28 minutes before Kitione Kautoga scored a double for Fiji either side of half-time. Though three more second half tries ensured the Kumuls won comfortably.
While the Cook Islands secured the women’s Pacific Bowl last weekend, Tonga still enjoyed a “dead rubber” win over the PNG Orchids. Martha Mataele scored a hat-trick as Tonga built on a 10-6 lead midway through the first half.
Results
Papua New Guinea Kumuls 50 Fiji Bati 18
Player Stats Table
ClubPositionPlayer NameTriesConversions1-Pt FG2-Pt FGPointsFirst Try ScorerLast Try ScorerPNG KumulsFullbackMorea Morea10004✅PNG KumulsWingerDudley Dotoi10004PNG KumulsCentreZac Laybutt00000PNG KumulsCentreNene Macdonald10004PNG KumulsWingerAlex Johnston00000PNG KumulsFive-EighthGairo Voro00000PNG KumulsHalfbackFinley Glare00000PNG KumulsPropEpel Kapinias00000PNG KumulsHookerEdwin Ipape10004PNG KumulsPropValentine Richard00000PNG Kumuls2nd RowRhyse Martin190022PNG Kumuls2nd RowNixon Putt10004PNG KumulsLockJack De Belin00000PNG KumulsInterchangeLachlan Lam00000PNG KumulsInterchangeRobert Mathias10004PNG KumulsInterchangeCooper Bai10004PNG KumulsInterchangeSylvester Namo00000PNG KumulsReplacementLiam Horne00000Fiji BatiFullbackJahream Bula00000Fiji BatiWingerSunia Turuva00000Fiji BatiCentreJope Rauqe00000Fiji BatiCentreSemi Valemei10004✅Fiji BatiWingerRonald Philitoga00000Fiji BatiFive-EighthKurt Donoghoe00000Fiji BatiHalfbackBrandon Wakeham01002Fiji BatiPropTui Kamikamica00000Fiji BatiHookerPenioni Tagituimua00000Fiji BatiPropKylan Mafoa00000Fiji Bati2nd RowTaane Milne00000Fiji Bati2nd RowKitione Kautoga20008Fiji BatiLockCaleb Navale00000Fiji BatiInterchangeTerrell Kalo Kalo00000Fiji BatiInterchangeSolomone Saukuru10004Fiji BatiInterchangeBen Nakubuwai00000Fiji BatiInterchangeKeresi Maya00000Fiji BatiReplacementAkuila Qoro00000
10-Minute Try Breakdown – By Team
Time PeriodPNG Kumuls TriesPNG Kumuls ScorersFiji Bati TriesFiji Bati Scorers0–101Morea Morea0–11–203Edwin Ipape, Nene Macdonald, Rhyse Martin0–21–301Cooper Bai0–31–400–1Kitione Kautoga41–501–1Kitione Kautoga51–601Nixon Putt1Solomone Saukuru61–702Dudley Dotoi, Robert Mathias0–71–800–1Semi Valemei
Score Timeline
MinuteTeamPlayerEvent TypePNG KumulsFiji BatiBiggest Lead (Updated)0––Kick-off000 (Even)10PNGMorea MoreaTry404 (PNG Kumuls)12PNGRhyse MartinConv606 (PNG Kumuls)14PNGEdwin IpapeTry10010 (PNG Kumuls)15PNGRhyse MartinConv12012 (PNG Kumuls)16PNGNene MacdonaldTry16016 (PNG Kumuls)17PNGRhyse MartinConv18018 (PNG Kumuls)20PNGRhyse MartinTry22022 (PNG Kumuls)21PNGRhyse MartinConv24024 (PNG Kumuls)26PNGCooper BaiTry28028 (PNG Kumuls)28PNGRhyse MartinConv30030 (PNG Kumuls)36FijiKitione KautogaTry30426 (PNG Kumuls)37FijiBrandon WakehamConv30624 (PNG Kumuls)40HT–Half-Time30624 (PNG Kumuls)46FijiKitione KautogaTry301020 (PNG Kumuls)50PNGNixon PuttTry341024 (PNG Kumuls)52PNGRhyse MartinConv361026 (PNG Kumuls)58FijiSolomone SaukuruTry361422 (PNG Kumuls)61PNGDudley DotoiTry401426 (PNG Kumuls)62PNGRhyse MartinConv421428 (PNG Kumuls)66PNGRobert MathiasTry461432 (PNG Kumuls) 67PNGRhyse MartinConv481434 (PNG Kumuls) 76FijiSemi ValemeiTry481830 (PNG Kumuls)79PNGRhyse Martin1-Pt FG (Pen)491831 (PNG Kumuls)80FT–Full-Time501832 (PNG Kumuls)
New Zealand 40 Tonga XIII 14
Player Stats Table
ClubPositionPlayer NameTriesGoals1-Pt FG2-Pt FGPointsFirst Try ScorerLast Try ScorerKiwisFullbackCharnze Nicoll-Klokstad10004KiwisWingerJamayne Isaako061012KiwisCentreMatthew Timoko10004KiwisCentreCasey McLean10004KiwisWingerKeano Kini10004✅KiwisFive-EighthDylan Brown20008KiwisHalfbackKieran Foran00000KiwisPropJames Fisher-Harris00000KiwisHookerPhoenix Crossland10004KiwisPropMoses Leota00000Kiwis2nd RowBriton Nikora00000Kiwis2nd RowIsaiah Papali’i00000KiwisLockJoseph Tapine00000KiwisInterchangeTe Maire Martin00000KiwisInterchangeNaufahu Whyte00000KiwisInterchangeErin Clark00000KiwisInterchangeXavier Willison00000KiwisReplacementScott Sorensen00000Tonga XIIIFullbackLehi Hopoate00000Tonga XIIIWingerDaniel Tupou10004✅Tonga XIIICentrePaul Alamoti00000Tonga XIIICentreWill Penisini00000Tonga XIIIWingerSione Katoa00000Tonga XIIIFive-EighthIsaiah Iongi00000Tonga XIIIHalfbackIsaiya Katoa03106Tonga XIIIPropAddin Fonua-Blake00000Tonga XIIIHookerSiliva Havili00000Tonga XIIIPropMoeaki Fotuaika00000Tonga XIII2nd RowEliesa Katoa00000Tonga XIII2nd RowKulikefu Finefeuiaki00000Tonga XIIILockJason Taumalolo00000Tonga XIIIInterchangeFelise Kaufusi00000Tonga XIIIInterchangeSiua Wong00000Tonga XIIIInterchangeSoni Luke00000Tonga XIIIInterchangeDemitric Vaimauga10004Tonga XIIIReplacementLeka Halasima00000
10-Minute Try Breakdown – By Team
Time PeriodKiwis TriesKiwis ScorersTonga XIII TriesTonga XIII Scorers0–100–0–11–201Keano Kini0–21–302Dylan Brown, Casey McLean0–31–401Matthew Timoko0–41–501–1Demitric Vaimauga51–601Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad0–61–701Dylan Brown0–71–800–1Daniel Tupou
Score Timeline
MinuteTeamPlayerEvent TypeKiwisTonga XIIIBiggest Lead0––Kick-off000 (Even)18NZKeano KiniTry404 (Kiwis)19NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Conv)606 (Kiwis)23NZDylan BrownTry10010 (Kiwis)25NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Conv)12012 (Kiwis)28NZCasey McLeanTry16016 (Kiwis)29NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Conv)18018 (Kiwis)36NZMatthew TimokoTry22022 (Kiwis)37NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Conv)24024 (Kiwis)39TONIsaiya KatoaGoal (Pen)24222 (Kiwis)40HT–Half-Time24222 (Kiwis)43NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Pen)26224 (Kiwis)48TONDemitric VaimaugaTry26620 (Kiwis)49TONIsaiya KatoaGoal (Conv)26818 (Kiwis)51NZCharnze Nicoll-KlokstadTry30822 (Kiwis)64NZDylan BrownTry34826 (Kiwis) ← Peak66NZJamayne IsaakoGoal (Conv)36828 (Kiwis)70NZPhoenix CrosslandTry40832 (Kiwis)75TONDaniel TupouTry401228 (Kiwis)75TONIsaiya KatoaGoal (Conv)401426 (Kiwis)80FT–Full-Time401426 (Kiwis)