It was a strong start to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup over the weekend, with all major pre-tournament favourites chalking up wins in their opening fixtures.
Australia got the competition started with a hard-fought win over a gallant England side, while New Zealand, Fiji, PNG and Tonga all thrashed their respective opponents for big wins.
The biggest upset of the weekend came on Sunday when Ireland thumped Italy in stifling conditions at Cairns, while Lebanon earned a crucial win over France in their match in Canberra that should see the Cedars through to the knockout stages of the compeittion.
GROUP A
Australia 18 def. England 4 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Lebanon 29 def. France 18 at GIO Stadium, Canberra
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
F/A |
Points |
Australia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+14 |
2 |
Lebanon |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+11 |
2 |
France |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-11 |
0 |
England |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-14 |
0 |
GROUP B
New Zealand 38 def. Samoa 8 at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Tonga 50 def. Scotland 4 at Barlow Park, Cairns
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
F/A |
Points |
Tonga |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+46 |
2 |
New Zealand |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+30 |
2 |
Samoa |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-30 |
0 |
Scotland |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-46 |
0 |
GROUP C
Papua New Guinea 50 def. Wales 6 at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Ireland 36 def. Italy 12 at Barlow Park, Cairns
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
F/A |
Points |
PNG |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+44 |
2 |
Ireland |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+24 |
2 |
Wales |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-44 |
0 |
GROUP D
Fiji 58 def. United States 12 at 1300 SMILES Stadium, Townsville
Ireland 36 def. Italy 12 at Barlow Park, Cairns
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
F/A |
Points |
Fiji |
1 |
1 |
0 |
+46 |
2 |
Italy |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-24 |
0 |
United States |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-46 |
0 |
LEADING TRY-SCORERS
3 — David Mead (PNG), Michael Jennings (Tonga)
2 — Taane Milne (Fiji), Kevin Naiqama (Fiji), Suliasi Vunivalu (Fiji), Bastien Ader (France), Liam Kay (Ireland), Travis Robinson (Lebanon), Rhys Martin (PNG), Daniel Tupou (Tonga)
UPCOMING FIXTURES
November 3 — Australia vs. France at GIO Stadium, Canberra (8:00pm)
November 4 — New Zealand vs. Scotland at Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch (3:00pm)
November 4 — Samoa vs. Tonga at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton (5:30pm)
November 4 — England vs. Lebanon at Allianz Stadium, Sydney (8:00pm)
November 5 — PNG vs. Ireland at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby (5:00pm)
November 5 — Italy vs. United States at 1300 SMILES Stadium, Townsville (5:00pm)
November 5 — Fiji vs. Wales at 1300 SMILES Stadium, Townsville (7:30pm)
