Fetu Samoa have recorded their biggest win in women’s international rugby league, defeating Wales 76-0 at CommBank Stadium to keep a first World Cup semi-final appearance within reach.
The victory puts the focus on Samoa’s meeting with England in Wollongong next Friday. According to Samoa Global News, if Australia defeat England in Perth on Saturday, that encounter at WIN Stadium will decide which of Samoa and England advances to the semi-finals.
Samoa have never reached the final four of a Women’s Rugby League World Cup. Their performance against Wales gave coach Frank Pritchard’s side a record-setting result ahead of that crucial next match.
Debutant Tyra Ekepati scored a hat-trick, while forward Amber Hall earned Player of the Match honours. Hall scored a try, broke nine tackles and ran for 108 metres, providing a strong platform through the middle for Samoa’s attack.
Destiny Mino-Sinapati and Mercedez Taulelei-Siala each scored twice. Laikha Clarke, Ivana Lolesio, Evania Isa’ako, Monica Tagoai, Freedom Crichton Ropati and Tavarna Papalii also crossed as Samoa finished with 14 tries.
Wales had early opportunities to score but could not break Samoa’s defence. Clarke opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Samoa went on to build a 40-0 half-time lead through seven first-half tries.
Another seven tries followed after the interval. Papalii scored Samoa’s final try in the 69th minute, completing a match in which Wales were held scoreless throughout.
The 76-point total surpassed Samoa’s previous women’s international scoring record of 52 points against Russia at the 2008 World Cup, Samoa Global News reported. Halfback Pauline Piliae-Rasabale added another national milestone by kicking 10 conversions, setting a record for the most goals by a Samoa player in a single match.
The result leaves Samoa preparing for England with both an attacking benchmark and a clear qualification scenario to watch. Saturday’s Australia–England match will determine whether next Friday’s contest becomes a direct battle for a historic semi-final place.