A hat-trick from Jess Saunders has kick-started New Zealand’s OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title defence in a 5-0 victory over tournament hosts Solomon Islands at the National Stadium in Honiara.
Seeking to maintain their perfect record of having won all seven previous editions of the championship at this year’s tournament, New Zealand scored four of their five goals in the first half, Saunders adding the fifth and completing her hat-trick late in the game.
The two nations were meeting at the group stage for the third consecutive edition, with New Zealand having won by the same 5-0 margin in Apia in 2025.
Saunders was in the thick of the action early, setting up Jessica Ellis for the opener in the fifth minute, before doubling the side’s advantage with a magnificent direct long-range free kick two minutes later.
She added to her early goal of the tournament contender in first-half stoppage time, breaking in behind and beating Solomon Islands goalkeeper Rose Beui from a one-on-one position for a double. Madeleine Dwyer was the other to get on the scoresheet, sneaking an effort through Beui’s gloves from long range.
Hosting the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship for the first time, the Solomon Islands delivered a much improved defensive display after the break, keeping New Zealand scoreless for over 45 minutes.
Just as it appeared as if New Zealand would be held scoreless for just the fourth time in a half of football at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, though, Saunders was on hand to tap home her hat-trick from a pass from player of the match Kodi Wilson.
Main photo: New Zealand … five-goal start to the tournament. Photo credit: OFC Media / Phototek.
Fiji overpower Cook Islands in tournament’s opening game
Young sensation Adi Reva scored five goals as Fiji overpowered the Cook Islands 11-0 in the opening match of the tournament.
Already capped at senior international level by the Kulas, Reva scored two in the first half and then added three more in the second, propelling Fiji to their largest ever win at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship.
Torika Boseiwaqa had the honour of scoring the first goal of the tournament in just the fifth minute, converting from the penalty spot.
That began a dominant afternoon for Nicola Demaine’s side, with Boiseiwaqa scoring a second in the 26th minute, and Esther Vunivi also getting on the scoresheet in the first half. Reva scored the first of her five just after the half-hour mark, poking the ball past opposing goalkeeper Leah Schuster.
She scored her second moments before half-time, and completed her hat-trick in the 50th minute with a header from a corner delivery. Reva then added two more in the final quarter to reach an impressive tally of five, the most ever by a Fijian player in a single OFC U-16 Women’s Championship match.
Half-time substitute Temalesi Masi also made her mark, scoring two goals off the bench, the first of which came just two minutes after entering the pitch. Fellow replacement Elisha Narayan completed the scoring with the last kick of the game.
Returning to the Championship after winning the qualifying tournament in Port Moresby earlier this year, it was a tough baptism for the Cook Islands. They’ll face the Solomon Islands next on Group A’s second matchday at the National Stadium on Wednesday, after the early pacesetters New Zealand and Fiji do battle.
Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
What’s at stake
The two finalists at the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Results
Games played on Sunday September 6, 2026
Group A
Fiji 11 (Torika Boseiwaqa 5’, 26’, Esther Vunivi 20’, Adi Reva 33’, 45’, 50’, 77’, 85’, Temalesi Masi 47’, 87’, Elisha Narayan 90+7’)
Cook Islands 0
New Zealand 5 (Jessica Ellis 5’, Jess Saunders 12’, 45+3’, 90+3′, Madeleine Dwyer 18’)
Solomon Islands 0
OFC U-16 Men’s Championship Group A
Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Fiji
1
1
0
0
11
0
11
3
New Zealand
1
1
0
0
5
0
5
3
Solomon Islands
1
0
0
1
0
5
-5
0
Cook Islands
1
0
0
1
0
11
-11
0
Fixtures
Games to be played on Monday September 7, 2026
Group B
New Caledonia v Papua New Guinea
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Samoa v Tonga
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Wednesday September 9, 2026
Group A
New Zealand v Fiji
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Cook Islands v Solomon Islands
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday September 10, 2026
Group B
Papua New Guinea v Tonga
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Samoa v New Caledonia
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Saturday September 12, 2026
Group A
Cook Islands v New Zealand
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Solomon Islands v Fiji
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Sunday September 13, 2026
Group B
Tonga v New Caledonia
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Papua New Guinea v Samo
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Wednesday September 16, 2026
Semi-final 1
Winner Group A v Runners-up Group B
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Semi-final 2
Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday September 17, 2026
Play-off for 7th place
4th Group A v 4th Group B
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Play-off for 5th place
3rd Group A v 3rd Group B
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Saturday September 19, 2026
Play-off for 3rd place
Losers semi-final 1 v losers semi-final 2
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)
Winners semi-final 1 v winners semi-final 2
National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)
This story was first published on September 6, 2026.