Rugby League World Cup 2017 - Round 3 Wrap

Rugby League World Cup 2017 - Round 3 Wrap

England will play Papua New Guinea at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium next Sunday after both nations secured their quarter-final spots with big wins as the Rugby League World Cup pool games came to an exciting conclusion on the weekend.

England's 36-6 defeat of France also confirmed an historic quarter-final berth for Lebanon as the third-placed team in Pool B, while the Kumuls record 64-0 win against the USA ensured they finished top of Pool C after winning all three of their matches in Port Moresby.

Lebanon will face Tonga at Christchurch Stadium next Saturday after the Mate Ma'a stunned New Zealand 22-16 to finish first in Pool B, while the Kiwis will play Fiji, who also finished undefeated in Pool D following their 38-10 defeat of Italy in Canberra on Friday night.

Australia finished top of Pool A, ahead of England, after their 34-0 defeat of a brave and battered Lebanon in Sydney on Saturday night and will meet Samoa, the third placed team in Pool B, at Darwin Stadium next Friday night.

Samoa qualified on a for-and-against over Scotland after snatching a 14-14 draw in a thrilling match at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday.

RLWC2017 has provided the following rights free match reports from the weekend's round:

England get job done in Perth

England scored seven tries against France at Perth Rectangular Stadium and while it will be enough to progress to the quarter-finals, they’ll face a tougher test against their next opponents Papua New Guinea. Wayne Bennett's men led 26-6 at halftime and went further ahead when winger Jermaine McGillvary scored in the 42nd minute but England only managed one more try as their intensity dropped and the errors increased to finish 36-6 winners.
For the full match report click here

Ireland bow out with heads held high

Ireland finished their Rugby League World Cup campaign in style with a 34-6 defeat of Wales at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Sunday. Despite winning two of their three games, the Wolfhounds exit the tournament after last weekend’s 14-6 loss to Papua New Guinea left them second in Pool C behind the Kumuls but Mark Aston’s team confirmed themselves as the best of the Celtic teams by piling on six tries to one.
For the full match report click here

PNG romp to record win

Papua New Guinea secured a quarter-final berth against England in Melbourne next Sunday by posting a record 64-0 win over USA at Oil Search National Football Stadium. The Kumuls scored at almost a point per minute as their blistering attack terrorised the Hawks, busting through the defensive line on 13 separate occasions as they racked up their highest ever World Cup total. Lachlan Lam, the son of former PNG captain and coach Adrian Lam, scored two first half tries in his Test debut for the Kumuls.
For the full match report click here

Kangaroos get away from committed Lebanese

A large contingent of Lebanon supporters created an electric atmosphere at the Sydney Football Stadium and their team gave them plenty of opportunities to beat their drums before going down 34-0. A great crowd of 21,127 saw Lebanon compete well to be behind just 10-0 until the 50th minute before the Aussies piled on four converted tries to run away with the match with the scoreline not true reflection of the game.
For the full match report click here

Scotland almost pull of upset of tournament

After conceding 124 points in their previous two games and being without skipper Danny Brough, Scotland restored pride and went within centimetres of achieving an unlikely quarter-final berth in a brave effort against Toa Samoa in Cairns.
Bravehearts five-eighth Danny Addy watched a field goal attempt swing just to the left of the upright in the closing minutes, just failing to break a 14-all deadlock and knock the Samoan side out of the competition. The Scots did not have one current NRL player in their side, and several second-level English league players, against a fully NRL-contracted Samoans team yet led for much of the match before having to accept a draw. Samoa go into the quarter-final against Australia in Darwin.\
For the full match report click here

Tonga create history in Hamilton

The Mate Ma’a Tonga team has set the Rugby League World Cup 2017 alight with their incredible come-from-behind victory over New Zealand before a packed house of more than 25,000 in Waikato Stadium, Hamilton in the final preliminary round.
Not only did the Tongans become the first tier two nation to beat a tier one side, they did so amidst an exhilarating atmosphere created by the crowd of 24,041 but they had to come from 16-2 behind midway through the second half.
It left Tonga on top of Pool B with a clash against Lebanon or France (if they can pull off an upset against England today and win by 15 points or more).
For the match report click here

Fiji fly into quarter-finals

On Friday night Fiji booked their quarter-finals spot with an impressive for-and-against tally of plus-140 to head Pool D after a 38-10 victory over Italy in Canberra. The Fijian side are set to play England in Melbourne next Sunday which will be a spectacular game based on how the Fijians have been playing, with some real razzle-dazzle class.
For the full match report click here

Quarter-Finals

Friday, 16 November at Darwin Stadium
Australia v Samoa (winner advances to semi-final at Brisbane Stadium, 23 November)

Saturday, 17 November at Wellington Regional Stadium
New Zealand v Fiji (winner advances to semi-final at Brisbane Stadium, 23 November)

Saturday, 17 November at Christchurch Stadium
Tonga v Lebanon (winner advances to semi-final at Mt Smart Stadium, 24 November)

Sunday, 18 November at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
England v Papua New Guinea (winner advances to semi-final at Mt Smart Stadium, 24 November)

ENDS

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